Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)
Partial text — Vidyeśvara and Vāyavīya Saṃhitās only
शिवान्येषः तु देवानां बेरमात्रं प्रकल्पितम् तत्तद्बेरं तु देवानां तत्तद्भोगप्रदं शुभम् शिवस्य लिंगबेरत्वं भोगमोक्षप्रदं शुभम्
For the other gods, only the image is established; each god's image grants them their respective enjoyments and is auspicious. But the liṅga-image of Śiva bestows both enjoyment and liberation, and is auspicious.
पुरा कदाचिद्योगींद्र विष्णुर्विषधरासनः सुष्वाप परया भूत्या स्वानुगैरपि संवृतः
Once, O lord of yogis, Viṣṇu, reclining on the serpent, slept in supreme prosperity, surrounded by his attendants.
यदृच्छया गतस्तत्र ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदांवरः अपृच्छत्पुंडरीकाक्षं शयनं सर्वसुन्दरम्
By chance, Brahmā, the foremost knower of Brahman, came there and questioned the lotus-eyed one, lying on his beautiful bed.
कस्त्वं पुरुषवच्छेषे दृष्ट्वा मामपि दृप्तवत् उत्तिष्ठ वत्स मां पश्य तव नाथमिहागतम्
Who are you, lying here like a man, looking at me with pride? Arise, child, see me, your master, who has come here.
आगतं गुरुमाराध्यं दृष्ट्वा यो दृप्तवच्चरेत् द्रोहिणस्तस्य मूढस्य प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते
One who, seeing his guru and lord arrive, behaves with arrogance, is a betrayer and a fool; expiation is prescribed for him.
इति श्रुत्वा वचः क्रुद्धो बहिः शांतवदाचरत् स्वस्ति ते स्वागतं वत्स तिष्ठ पीठमितो विश
Hearing these words, though angry, he acted outwardly calm: 'Peace to you, welcome, child, sit down, take this seat.'
किमु ते व्याग्रवद्वक्त्रं विभाति विषमेक्षणम् वत्स विष्णो महामानमागतं कालवेगतः
Why does your face appear fierce, your gaze uneven, like a tiger's, O Viṣṇu? Great pride has come upon you, driven by time.
पितामहश्च जगतः पाता च तव वत्सक मत्स्थं जगदिदं वत्स मनुषे त्वं हि चोरवत्
O child, the Grandfather is the lord of the world, and you are its protector. This world abides in me, yet you act like a thief among men.
मन्नाभिकमलाज्जातः पुत्रस्त्वं भाषसे वृथा एवं हि वदतोस्तत्र मुग्धयोरजयोस्तदा
Born from the lotus of my navel, you are my son, yet you speak in vain. Thus, as these two deluded and undefeated ones spoke there—
अहमेव बरो न त्वमहं प्रभुरहं प्रभुः परस्परं हंतुकामौ चक्रतुः समरोद्यमम्
'I alone am supreme, not you; I am the lord, not you.' Wishing to kill each other, they prepared for battle.
युयुधाते ऽमरौ वीरौ हंसपक्षींद्रवाहनौ वैरंच्या वैष्णवाश्चैवं मिथो युयुधिरे तदा
Those two immortal heroes, riding the swan and the king of birds, fought each other; thus, the followers of Brahmā and Viṣṇu also fought mutually.
तावद्विमानगतयः सर्वा वै देवजातयः दिदृक्षवः समाजग्मुः समरं तं महाद्भुतम्
Then, all the races of gods, traveling in their aerial chariots, came together, eager to witness that wondrous battle.
क्षिपंतः पुष्पवर्षाणि पश्यंतः स्वैरमंबरे सुपर्णवाहनस्तत्र क्रुद्धो वै ब्रह्मवक्षसि
Showering down rains of flowers, watching freely in the sky, there, the one riding Garuḍa became angry at Brahmā's chest.
मुमोच बाणानसहानस्त्रांश्च विविधान्बहून् मुमोचा ऽथ विधिः क्रुद्धो विष्णोरुरसि दुःसहान्
Then the enraged Brahmā released countless arrows and various formidable weapons upon Viṣṇu’s chest.
बाणाननलसंकाशानस्त्रांश्च बहुशस्तदा तदाश्चर्यमिति स्पष्टं तयोः समरगोचरम्
At that time, he discharged many weapons and arrows blazing like fire; truly, the spectacle of their battle was astonishing.