Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

तत्प्रसादेन सत्रांते वायुस्तत्रागमिष्यति तन्मुखाज्ज्ञानलाभो वस्तत्र श्रेयो भविष्यति

By his grace, at the end of the sacrifice, Vayu will come there; from his mouth knowledge will be gained, and there will be supreme benefit.

इत्यादिश्य वयं सर्वे प्रेषिता परमेष्ठिना अस्मिन्देशे महाभाग तवागमनकांक्षिणः

Thus instructed by the supreme lord, we have all been sent to this place, O noble one, eagerly awaiting your arrival.

दीर्घसत्रं समासीना दिव्यवर्षसहस्रकम् अतस्तवागमादन्यत्प्रार्थ्यं नो नास्ति किंचन

Seated in this long sacrifice lasting a thousand divine years, we have no other desire except your coming.

इत्याकर्ण्य पुरावृत्तमृषीणां दीर्घसत्रिणाम् वायुः प्रीतमना भूत्वा तत्रासीन्मुनिसंवृतः

Hearing this account of the ancient event concerning the long-sacrificing sages, Vayu, his mind gladdened, sat there surrounded by the sages.

ततस्तैर्मुनिभिः पृष्टस्तेषां भावविवृद्धये सर्गादि शार्वमैश्वर्यं समासाद वदद्विभुः

Then, questioned by those sages for the growth of their understanding, the mighty one began to speak of the creation and the lordly power of Shiva.

तत्र पूर्वं महाभागा नैमिषारण्यवासिनः प्रणिपत्य यथान्यायं पप्रच्छुः पवनं प्रभुम्

There, at first, the blessed inhabitants of Naimisha forest, having bowed properly, questioned the lord of the wind.

भवान् कथमनुप्राप्तो ज्ञानमीश्वरगोचरम् कथं च शिवभावस्ते ब्रह्मणो ऽव्यक्तजन्मनः

How did you attain the knowledge that pertains to the Lord? And how did you come to possess the nature of Shiva, who is the unmanifest-born of Brahma?

एकोनविंशतिः कल्पो विज्ञेयः श्वेतलोहितः तस्मिन्कल्पे चतुर्वक्त्रस्स्रष्टुकामो ऽतपत्तपः

The nineteenth kalpa is to be known as Shvetalohita; in that kalpa, the four-faced one, desiring to create, performed austerity.

तपसा तेन तीव्रेण तुष्टस्तस्य पिता स्वयम् दिव्यं कौमारमास्थाय रूपं रूपवतां वरः

By his intense austerity, his father himself, the best among those endowed with beauty, was pleased and assumed a divine youthful form.

श्वेतो नाम मुनिर्भूत्वा दिव्यां वाचमुदीरयन् दर्शनं प्रददौ तस्मै देवदेवो महेश्वरः

Becoming the sage named Śveta, he uttered divine speech; the great god Maheśvara, lord of gods, granted him a vision.