Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

यक्षाः पिशाचा गंधर्वास्तथैवाप्सरसां गणाः नरकिन्नररक्षांसि वयःपशुमृगोरगाः

Yakṣas, Piśācas, Gandharvas, the hosts of Apsarases, humans, Kinnaras, Rākṣasas, birds, animals, and serpents were born.

अव्ययं चैव यदिदं स्थाणुस्थावरजंगमम् तेषां वै यानि कर्माणि प्राक्सृष्टानि प्रपेदिरे

The imperishable, the immovable and moving, all that is called Sthāṇu, and their actions previously created, entered into them.

तान्येव ते प्रपद्यंते सृज्यमानाः पुनः पुनः हिंस्राहिंस्रे मृदुक्रूरे धर्माधर्मावृतानृते

Those very actions are repeatedly assumed by beings as they are created again and again, whether violent or gentle, righteous or unrighteous, true or false.

तद्भाविताः प्रपद्यंते तस्मात्तत्तस्य रोचते महाभूतेषु नानात्वमिंद्रियार्थेषु मुक्तिषु

Influenced by those, beings take on their nature; thus, diversity is seen among the great elements, the senses, and in liberation.

विनियोगं च भूतानां धातैव व्यदधत्स्वयम् नाम रूपं च भूतानां प्राकृतानां प्रपञ्चनम्

The creator himself assigned the functions of beings, and their names and forms, as well as the manifestation of natural entities.

वेदशब्देभ्य एवादौ निर्ममे ऽसौ पितामहः आर्षाणि चैव नामानि याश्च वेदेषु वृत्तयः

In the beginning, the Grandfather fashioned from the words of the Vedas the names of sages and the usages found in the Vedas.

शर्वर्यंते प्रसूतानां तान्येवैभ्यो ददावजः यथर्तावृतुलिंगानि नानारूपाणि पर्यये

At the end of each cycle, he gave to those born the same forms and marks as before, with various appearances in succession.

दृश्यंते तानि तान्येव तथा भावा युगादिषु इत्येष करणोद्भूतो लोकसर्गस्स्वयंभुवः

Those same forms and states are seen at the beginning of each era; thus, the creation of the world arises spontaneously from the instruments.

महदाद्योविशेषांतो विकारः प्रकृतेः स्वयम् चंद्रसूर्यप्रभाजुष्टो ग्रहनक्षत्रमंडितः

The transformation of Prakṛti, from the great principle to the particular, is adorned with the radiance of the moon and sun, and encircled by planets and stars.

नदीभिश्च समुद्रैश्च पर्वतैश्च स मंडितः परैश्च विविधैरम्यैस्स्फीतैर्जनपदैस्तथा

It is adorned with rivers, oceans, mountains, and with delightful, prosperous regions of various kinds.

तस्मिन् ब्रह्मवने ऽव्यक्तो ब्रह्मा चरति सर्ववित् अव्यक्तबीजप्रभव ईश्वरानुग्रहे स्थितः

In that Brahma forest, the unmanifest Brahmā moves, all-knowing, established by the grace of the Lord, originating from the seed of the unmanifest.

बुद्धिस्कंधमहाशाख इन्द्रियांतरकोटरः महाभूतप्रमाणश्च विशेषामलपल्लवः

With intellect as the great branch, the senses as inner hollows, the measure of the great elements, and the pure shoots of particularities.

धर्माधर्मसुपुष्पाढ्यः सुखदुःखफलोदयः आजीव्यः सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मवृक्षः सनातनः

Abundant with the blossoms of righteousness and unrighteousness, yielding the fruits of pleasure and pain, the eternal Brahma tree is the source of life for all beings.

द्यां मूर्धानं तस्य विप्रा वदंति खं वै नाभिं चंद्रसूर्यौ च नेत्रे दिशः श्रोत्रे चरणौ च क्षितिं च सो ऽचिन्त्यात्मा सर्वभूतप्रणेता

The sages say its head is the sky, its navel is space, its eyes are the moon and sun, its ears are the directions, its feet are the earth; this inconceivable Self is the mover of all beings.

वक्त्रात्तस्य ब्रह्मणास्संप्रसूतास्तद्वक्षसः क्षत्रियाः पूर्वभागात् वैश्या उरुभ्यां तस्य पद्भ्यां च शूद्राः सर्वे वर्णा गात्रतः संप्रसूताः

From its mouth arose the Brāhmaṇas, from its chest the Kṣatriyas, from its front the Vaiśyas, from its thighs and feet the Śūdras; all castes were born from its limbs.

भवता कथिता सृष्टिर्भवस्य परमात्मनः चतुर्मुखमुखात्तस्य संशयो नः प्रजायते

You have described the creation by the Supreme Self, Bhava, from the mouth of the Four-faced One; yet, we have a doubt regarding this.

देवश्रेष्ठो विरूपाक्षो दीप्तश्शूलधरो हरः कालात्मा भगवान् रुद्रः कपर्दी नीललोहितः

The foremost of gods, Virūpākṣa, radiant, bearing the trident, Hara, the embodiment of time, the blessed Rudra, with matted hair, dark and red-hued—

सब्रह्मकमिमं लोकं सविष्णुमपि पावकम् यः संहरति संक्रुद्धो युगांते समुपस्थिते

He who, when the end of the age arrives, in anger withdraws this world along with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and even Fire—

यस्य ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च प्रणामं कुरुतो भयात् लोकसंकोचकस्यास्य यस्य तौ वशवर्तिनौ

Before whom Brahmā and Viṣṇu bow in fear, for he contracts the worlds, and those two remain under his control—

यो ऽयं देवः स्वकादंगाद्ब्रह्मविष्णू पुरासृजत् स एव हि तयोर्नित्यं योगक्षेमकरः प्रभुः

This very god, who formerly created Brahmā and Viṣṇu from his own body, is indeed always the lord who ensures their welfare and sustenance.

स कथं भगवान् रुद्र आदिदेवः पुरातनः पुत्रत्वमगमच्छंभुर्ब्रह्मणो ऽव्यक्तजन्मनः

How then did the blessed Rudra, the ancient primeval god, Śambhu, become the son of Brahmā, whose birth is unmanifest?

प्रजापतिश्च विष्णुश्च रुद्रस्यैतौ परस्परम् सृष्टौ परस्परस्यांगादिति प्रागपि शुश्रुम

We have also heard before that Prajāpati and Viṣṇu were mutually created from Rudra, each from the other's body.

कथं पुनरशेषाणां भूतानां हेतुभूतयोः गुणप्रधानभावेन प्रादुर्भावः परस्परात्

How then did these two, who are the causes of all beings, arise from each other, taking the roles of guṇa and pradhāna?

नापृष्टं भवता किंचिन्नाश्रुतं च कथंचन भगवच्छिष्यभूतेन भवता सकलं स्मृतम्

There is nothing you have not been asked, nor anything you have not heard; as a devoted disciple of the Blessed One, you remember everything.

तत्त्वं वद यथा ब्रह्मा मुनीनामवदद्विभुः वयं श्रद्धालवस्तात श्रोतुमीश्वरसद्यशः

Tell us the truth, just as Brahmā, the all-pervading, spoke to the sages; we, full of faith, wish to hear the glorious deeds of the Lord.

स्थाने पृष्टमिदं विप्रा भवद्भिः प्रश्नकोविदैः इदमेव पुरा पृष्टो मम प्राह पितामहः

This question has rightly been asked by you, O wise brāhmaṇas skilled in inquiry; my grandfather was asked the same in ancient times.

तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा रुद्रसमुद्भवः यथा च पुनरुत्पत्तिर्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः परस्परम्

Therefore, I shall now explain how Rudra originated, and also how Brahmā and Viṣṇu mutually arise again.

त्रयस्ते कारणात्मानो जतास्साक्षान्महेश्वरात् चराचरस्य विश्वस्य सर्गस्थित्यंतहेतवः

These three, born directly from the Great Lord, are the causes of the universe, both moving and unmoving, and are the reasons for creation, preservation, and destruction.

परमैश्वर्यसंयुक्ताः परमेश्वरभाविताः तच्छक्त्याधिष्ठिता नित्यं तत्कार्यकरणक्षमाः

Endowed with supreme sovereignty, inspired by the Supreme Lord, ever established in his power, they are always capable of performing their respective functions.