Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

इत्युक्त्वा सूर्यसंकाशं चक्रं दृष्ट्वा मनोमयम् प्रणिपत्य महादेवं विससर्ज पितामहः

Having spoken thus, and seeing the mental wheel shining like the sun, the Grandfather, after bowing to Mahadeva, released it.

ते ऽपि हृष्टतरा विप्राः प्रणम्य जगतां प्रभुम् प्रययुस्तस्य चक्रस्य यत्र नेमिरशीर्यत

Those delighted sages, having bowed to the Lord of the worlds, went to the place where the rim of his discus had fallen.

चक्रं तदपि संक्षिप्तं श्लक्ष्णं चारुशिलातले विमलस्वादुपानीये निजपात वने क्वचित्

That discus, compact and smooth, lay upon a beautiful stone surface, pure and with sweet water nearby, having fallen in a certain forest.

तद्वनं तेन विख्यातं नैमिषं मुनिपूजितम् अनेकयक्षगंधर्वविद्याधरसमाकुलम्

That forest became renowned as Naimisha, honored by sages, thronged with countless yakshas, gandharvas, and vidyadharas.

अष्टादश समुद्रस्य द्वीपानश्नन्पुरूरवाः विलासवशमुर्वश्या यातो दैवेन चोदितः

Pururavas, driven by fate and captivated by Urvashi's charms, traversed the islands of the eighteenfold ocean.

अक्रमेण हरन्मोहाद्यज्ञवाटं हिरण्मयम् मुनिभिर्यत्र संक्रुद्धैः कुशवज्रैर्निपातितः

There, in a fit of delusion, he unlawfully seized the golden sacrificial enclosure, which the enraged sages struck down with blades of sacred grass as thunderbolts.

विश्वं सिसृक्षमाणा वै यत्र विश्वसृजः पुरा सत्रमारेभिरे दिव्यं ब्रह्मज्ञा गार्हपत्यगाः

There, in ancient times, the creators of the worlds, desiring to bring forth the universe, began a divine sacrificial session, the knowers of Brahman tending the sacred fire.

ऋषिभिर्यत्र विद्वद्भिः शब्दार्थन्यायकोविदैः शक्तिप्रज्ञाक्रियायोगैर्विधिरासीदनुष्ठितः

There, the wise seers, skilled in the meanings of words and logic, performed the rites with power, knowledge, and disciplined action.

यत्र वेदविदो नित्यं वेदवादबहिष्कृतान् वादजल्पबलैर्घ्नंति वचोभिरतिवादिनः

There, those learned in the Vedas always vanquish, with arguments and words, the disputants who are excluded from Vedic doctrine and rely on mere sophistry.

स्फटिकमयमहीभृत्पादजाभ्यश्शिलाभ्यः प्रसरदमृतकल्पस्स्वच्छपानीयरम्यम् अतिरसफलवृक्षप्रायमव्यालसत्त्वं तपस उचितमासीन्नैमिषं तन्मुनीनाम्

From the crystal-like stones at the foot of the mountain flowed water as pure as nectar, delightful to drink, with abundant fruitful trees, free from wild beasts—Naimisha was truly fit for the sages' austerities.

तस्मिन्देशे महाभागा मुनयश्शंसितव्रताः अर्चयंतो महादेवं सत्रमारेभिरे तदा

In that land, the noble sages of firm vows began a sacrificial session, worshipping the great god.

विश्वं सिसृक्षमाणानां पुरा विश्वसृजामिव

Just as, in ancient times, the creators of the worlds sought to bring forth the universe.

अथ काले गते सत्रे समाप्ते भूरिदक्षिणे पितामहनियोगेन वायुस्तत्रागमत्स्वयम्

Then, when the sacrificial session had ended and abundant gifts had been given, by the command of the Grandfather, Vayu himself arrived there.

शिष्यस्स्वयंभुवो देवस्सर्वप्रत्यक्षदृग्वशी आज्ञायां मरुतो यस्य संस्थितास्सप्तसप्तकाः

He is the disciple of the self-born god, who perceives all directly; at his command, the Maruts, grouped in sevens, are established.

प्रेरयञ्छश्वदंगानि प्राणाद्याभिः स्ववृत्तिभिः सर्वभूतशरीराणां कुरुते यश्च धारणम्

He sets in motion the limbs and vital airs of all beings by their respective functions, and sustains the bodies of all creatures.

अणिमादिभिरष्टाभिरैश्वर्यैश्च समन्वितः तिर्यक्कालादिभिर्मेध्यैर्भुवनानि बिभर्ति यः

Endowed with the eight powers beginning with animā and with lordly might, he upholds the worlds through pure means, transcending time and direction.

आकाशयोनिर्द्विगुणः स्पर्शशब्दसमन्वयात् तेजसां प्रकृतिश्चेति यमाहुस्तत्त्वचिंतकाः

He is said by those who contemplate reality to be born of space, possessing a double nature, pervaded by touch and sound, and the source of fire.

तमाश्रमगतं दृष्ट्वा मुनयो दीर्घसत्रिणः पितामहवचः स्मृत्वा प्रहर्षमतुलं ययुः

Seeing him arrive at the hermitage, the sages engaged in the long sacrifice, recalling the Grandfather's words, experienced incomparable joy.

अभ्युत्थाय ततस्सर्वे प्रणम्यांबरसंभवम् चामीकरमयं तस्मै विष्टरं समकल्पयन्

All of them rose up, bowed to him who was born of the sky, and prepared for him a golden seat.

सोपि तत्र समासीनो मुनिभिस्सम्यगर्चितः प्रतिनंद्य च तान् सर्वान् पप्रच्छ कुशलं ततः

He too, having taken his seat there and being duly honored by the sages, greeted them all and then inquired about their well-being.

अत्र वः कुशलं विप्राः कच्चिद्वृत्ते महाक्रतौ कच्चिद्यज्ञहनो दैत्या न बाधेरन्सुरद्विषः

Are you all well, O brahmins? Has the great sacrifice proceeded properly? Have the demons, haters of the gods, not disturbed the sacrifice?

प्रायश्चित्तं दुरिष्टं वा न कच्चित्समजायत स्तोत्रशस्त्रगृहैर्देवान् पित्ःन् पित्र्यैश्च कर्मभिः

Has any misfortune or need for expiation arisen, either through faulty rites or otherwise, in your worship of the gods with hymns, weapons, and ancestral offerings?

कच्चिदभ्यर्च्य युष्माभिर्विधिरासीत्स्वनुष्ठितः निवृत्ते च महासत्रे पश्चात्किं वश्चिकीर्षितम्

Has the prescribed ritual been properly performed by you? Now that the great sacrifice is completed, what do you intend to do next?

इत्युक्ता मुनयः सर्वे वायुना शिवभाविना प्रहृष्टमनसः पूताः प्रत्यूचुर्विनयान्विताः

Thus addressed, all the sages, purified and gladdened in heart by the wind-god devoted to Shiva, replied with humility.

अद्य नः कुशलं सर्वमद्य साधु भवेत्तपः अस्मच्छ्रेयोभिवृद्ध्यर्थं भवानत्रागतो यतः

Today, all is well with us; today, our austerity is truly fruitful, for you have come here for the increase of our welfare.

शृणु चेदं पुरावृत्तं तमसाक्रांतमानसैः उपासितः पुरास्माभिर्विज्ञानार्थं प्रजापतिः

Now listen to this ancient event: in the past, when our minds were clouded by darkness, we worshipped Prajapati to gain knowledge.

सोप्यस्माननुगृह्याह शरण्यश्शरणागतान् सर्वस्मादधिको रुद्रो विप्राः परमकारणम्

He, the refuge of those who seek refuge, graciously told us: 'Rudra surpasses all; O brahmins, he is the supreme cause.'

तमप्रतर्क्यं याथात्म्यं भक्तिमानेव पश्यति भक्तिश्चास्य प्रसादेन प्रसादादेव निर्वृतिः

His true nature cannot be comprehended by reasoning; only the devoted perceive it, and by his grace alone does devotion arise, and from his grace comes liberation.

तस्मादस्य प्रसादार्थं नैमिषे सत्रयोगतः यजध्वं दीर्घसत्रेण रुद्रं परमकारणम्

Therefore, to obtain his grace, you should worship Rudra, the supreme cause, here at Naimisha, with a long sacrificial session.