Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

मेरुशृंगे शुभे रम्ये देवदानवसंकुले सिद्धचारणसंवादे यक्षगंधर्वसेविते

On the beautiful and delightful summit of Meru, crowded with gods and demons, filled with the conversations of siddhas and cāraṇas, and attended by yakṣas and gandharvas,

विहंगसंघसंघुष्टे मणिविद्रुमभूषिते निकुंजकंदरदरीगृहानिर्झरशोभिते

Resounding with flocks of birds, adorned with jewels and coral, beautified by groves, caves, mountain streams, and lovely waterfalls,

तत्र ब्रह्मवनं नाम नानामृगसमाकुलम् दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम्

There is the forest called Brahmavana, teeming with various animals, ten yojanas wide and a hundred yojanas long.

सुरसामलपानीयपूर्णरम्यसरोवरम् मत्तभ्रमरसंछन्नरम्यपुष्पितपादपम्

It has a charming lake filled with sweet, pure water, and beautiful flowering trees covered with intoxicated bees.

तरुणादित्यसंकाशं तत्र चारु महत्पुरम् दुर्धर्षबलदृप्तानां दैत्यदानवरक्षसाम्

There stands a splendid great city, radiant like the rising sun, inhabited by powerful and proud daityas, dānavas, and rākṣasas.

तप्तजांबूनदमयं प्रांशुप्राकारतोरणम् निर्व्यूहवलभीकूटप्रतोलीशतमंडितम्

Made of molten gold, with lofty walls and gateways, adorned with hundreds of courtyards, balconies, towers, and main streets.

महार्हमणिचित्राभिर्लेलिहानमिवांबरम् महाभवनकोटीभिरनेकाभिरलंकृतम्

It seems to lick the sky with its splendid, precious jewels, and is decorated with countless grand mansions.

तस्मिन्निवसति ब्रह्मा सभ्यैः सार्धं प्रजापतिः तत्र गत्वा महात्मानं साक्षाल्लोकपितामहम्

There resides Brahmā, the lord of creatures, together with his assembly; having gone there, the sages beheld the great-souled, primordial father of the world directly.

दद्दशुर्मुनयो देवा देवर्षिगणसेवितम् शुद्धचामीकरप्रख्यं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्

The sages and gods saw him, attended by hosts of divine seers, shining like pure gold and adorned with every ornament.

प्रसन्नवदनं सौम्यं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम् दिव्यकांतिसमायुक्तं दिव्यगंधानुलेपनम्

With a cheerful face, gentle in demeanor, eyes elongated like lotus petals, endowed with divine radiance, and anointed with celestial fragrance.

दिव्यशुक्लांबरधरं दिव्यमालाविभूषितम् सुरासुरेन्द्रयोगींद्रवंद्यमानपदांबुजम्

Clad in divine white garments, adorned with a heavenly garland, whose lotus feet are venerated by the lords of gods, demons, and yogis.

सर्वलक्षणयुक्तांग्या लब्धचामरहस्तया भ्राजमानं सरस्वत्या प्रभयेव दिवाकरम्

With limbs bearing all auspicious marks, holding a fly-whisk in hand, shining like the sun by the brilliance of Sarasvati.

तं दृष्ट्वा मुनयस्सर्वे प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणाः शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय तुष्टुवुस्सुरपुंगवम्

Upon seeing him, all the sages, their faces radiant with joy, placed their hands upon their heads in reverence and praised the foremost among the gods.

नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं सर्गस्थित्यंतहेतवे पुरुषाय पुराणाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने

Salutations to you, O Three-formed One, cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution, the primordial Person, ancient, Brahman, supreme Self.

नमः प्रधानदेहाय प्रधानक्षोभकारिणे त्रयोविंशतिभेदेन विकृतायाविकारिणे

Salutations to the One whose body is Pradhana, who agitates Pradhana, who, though transformed in twenty-three ways, remains unchanged.

नमो ब्रह्माण्डदेहाय ब्रह्मांडोदरवर्तिने तत्र संसिद्धकार्याय संसिद्धकरणाय च

Salutations to the One whose body is the cosmic egg, who dwells within its interior, who accomplishes all tasks and brings all instruments to perfection therein.

नमोस्तु सर्वलोकाय सर्वलोकविधायिने सर्वात्मदेहसंयोग वियोगविधिहेतवे

Salutations to the One who is all worlds, who arranges all worlds, who is the cause of union and separation of all embodied souls.

त्वयैव निखिलं सृष्टं संहृतं पालितं जगत् तथापि मायया नाथ न विद्मस्त्वां पितामह

By you alone, the entire universe is created, dissolved, and protected; yet, O Lord, due to your maya, we do not know you, O Ancestor.

एवं ब्रह्मा महाभागैर्महर्षिभिरभिष्टुतः प्राह गंभीरया वाचा मुनीन् प्रह्लादयन्निव

Thus, Brahma, praised by the great sages of great fortune, spoke with a deep voice, as if delighting the sages.

ऋषयो हे महाभागा महासत्त्वा महौजसः किमर्थं सहितास्सर्वे यूयमत्र समागताः

O illustrious sages, of great strength and energy, for what purpose have you all gathered here together?

तमेवंवादिनं देवं ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मवित्तमाः वाग्भिर्विनयगर्भाभिस्सर्वे प्रांजलयो ऽब्रुवन्

To that god, Brahma, who spoke thus, all the knowers of Brahman, with hands joined in reverence, addressed him with words filled with humility.

भगवन्नंधकारेण महता वयमावृताः खिन्ना विवदमानाश्च न पश्यामो ऽत्र यत्परम्

O Lord, we are enveloped by great darkness, distressed and disputing, unable to perceive what is supreme here.

त्वं हि सर्वजगद्धाता सर्वकारणकारणम् त्वया ह्यविदितं नाथ नेह किंचन विद्यते

You are indeed the sustainer of all worlds, the cause of all causes; O Lord, nothing here exists unknown to you.

कः पुमान् सर्वसत्त्वेभ्यः पुराणः पुरुषः परः विशुद्धः परिपूर्णश्च शाश्वतः परमेश्वरः

Who is the supreme, ancient Person among all beings, pure, complete, eternal, and the highest Lord?

केनैव चित्रकृत्येन प्रथमं सृज्यते जगत् तत्त्वं वद महाप्राज्ञ स्वसंदेहापनुत्तये

By what wondrous act is the universe first created? Tell us the truth, O great sage, to dispel our doubts.

एवं पृष्टस्तदा ब्रह्मा विस्मयस्मेरवीक्षणः देवानां दानवानां च मुनीनामपि सन्निधौ

Thus questioned, Brahma, gazing with wonder and a smile, in the presence of gods, demons, and sages,

उत्थाय सुचिरं ध्यात्वा रुद्र इत्युद्धरन् गिरिम् आनंदक्लिन्नसर्वांगः कृतांजलिरभाषत

Rising up, after long contemplation, uttering 'Rudra,' his whole body moist with joy, with joined palms, he spoke.

यतो वाचो निवर्तंते अप्राप्य मनसा सह आनंदं यस्य वै विद्वान्न बिभेति कुतश्चन

From whom words, along with the mind, turn back, not attaining; the bliss of whom, when known, leaves the wise one unafraid of anything.

यस्मात्सर्वमिदं ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रेन्द्रपूर्वकम् सह भूतेन्द्रियैः सर्वैः प्रथमं संप्रसूयते

From whom all this—beginning with Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra, together with all beings and senses—first arises.