Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अथ तुष्टुवतुर्देवं प्रीतौ भीतौ च कौतुकात् प्रणेमतुश्च बहुशो बहुमानेन दूरतः

Then, delighted and awed, they praised the god, and out of curiosity and fear, bowed repeatedly from a respectful distance.

भवोपि भगवानेतावनुगृह्य पिनाकधृक् सादरं पश्यतोरेव तयोरंतरधीयत

Bhava, the blessed lord, bearer of the Pināka, graciously regarded them, and while they watched, vanished from their sight.

प्रतिकल्पं प्रवक्ष्यामि रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् यतो विच्छिन्नसंताना ब्रह्मसृष्टिः प्रवर्तते

I shall declare, for each cycle, the cause of Rudra's manifestation, by which Brahmā's creation proceeds when its continuity is broken.

कल्पेकल्पे प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मांडसंभवः अवृद्धिहेतोर्भूतानां मुमोह भृशदुःखितः

In every cycle, having created beings, Brahmā, born from the cosmic egg, became greatly troubled and confused due to their lack of growth.

तस्य दुःखप्रशांत्यर्थं प्रजानां च विवृद्धये तत्तत्कल्पेषु कालात्मा रुद्रो रुद्रगणाधिपः

To relieve his sorrow and to increase the progeny, in each cycle, Rudra, lord of the Rudra hosts, manifests as the embodiment of time.

निर्दिष्टः पममेशेन महेशो नीललोहितः पुत्रो भूत्वानुगृह्णाति ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मणोनुजः

Designated by the supreme lord, Maheśa, blue and red in hue, becomes Brahmā's son and graciously assists him, though younger in birth.

स एव भगवानीशस्तेजोराशिरनामयः अनादिनिधनोधाता भूतसंकोचको विभुः

That very blessed lord, master, repository of energy, without affliction, the origin without beginning or end, the mighty one who contracts all beings.

परमैश्वर्यसंयुक्तः परमेश्वरभावितः तच्छक्त्याधिष्ठितश्शश्वत्तच्चिह्नैरपि चिह्नितः

Endowed with supreme lordship, established in the state of the highest lord, governed by his own power, eternally marked by those signs.

तन्नामनामा तद्रूपस्तत्कार्यकरणक्षमः तत्तुल्यव्यवहारश्च तदाज्ञापरिपालकः

His name is nameless, his form is that form, capable of performing those deeds, conducting himself accordingly, and upholding those commands.

सहस्रादित्यसंकाशश्चन्द्रावयवभूषणः भुजंगहारकेयूरवलयो मुंजमेखलः

He shone like a thousand suns, adorned with the crescent moon, with serpents as garlands, armlets, and bracelets, and a girdle of munja grass.

जलंधरविरिंचेन्द्रकपालशकलोज्ज्वलः गङ्गातुंगतरंगार्धपिंगलाननमूर्धजः

He blazed with fragments of the skulls of Jalandhara, Brahma, and Indra, and his matted hair was tawny, half-wet with the high waves of the Ganga.

भग्नदंष्ट्रांकुराक्रान्तप्रान्तकान्तधराधरः सव्यश्रवणपार्श्वांतमंडलीकृतकुण्डलः

He was beautiful as a mountain at the edge, pressed by the sprouts of broken tusks, and on the left side of his ear, his earring formed a circle.

महावृषभनिर्याणो महाजलदनिःस्वनः महानलसमप्रख्यो महाबलपराक्रमः

He rode the great bull, his voice was like a mighty cloud, he was blazing like a great fire, and possessed immense strength and valor.

एवं घोरमहारूपो ब्रह्मपुत्रीं महेश्वरः विज्ञानं ब्रह्मणे दत्त्वा सर्गे सहकरोति च

Thus, in this terrifying and majestic form, Maheshvara, after giving knowledge to Brahma's daughter, assisted in creation.

तस्माद्रुद्रप्रसादेन प्रतिकल्पं प्रजापतेः प्रवाहरूपतो नित्या प्रजासृष्टिः प्रवर्तते

Therefore, by Rudra's grace, in every cycle, the perpetual creation of beings proceeds through Prajapati in the form of a current.

कदाचित्प्रार्थितः स्रष्टुं ब्रह्मणा नीललोहितः स्वात्मना सदृशान् सर्वान् ससर्ज मनसा विभुः

Once, when requested by Brahma to create, the blue-red one, by his own will, mentally created all beings similar to himself.

कपर्दिनो निरातंकान्नीलग्रीवांस्त्रिलोचनान् जरामरणनिर्मुक्तान् दीप्तशूलवरायुधान्

He created matted-haired, fearless, blue-throated, three-eyed beings, free from old age and death, bearing blazing spears and excellent weapons.

तैस्तु संच्छादितं सर्वं चतुर्दशविधं जगत् तान्दृष्टा विविधान्रुद्रान् रुद्रमाह पितामहः

By them, the entire fourteenfold world was covered; seeing these various Rudras, Pitamaha addressed Rudra.

नमस्ते देवदेवेश मास्राक्षीरीदृशीः प्रजाः अन्याः सृज त्वं भद्रं ते प्रजा मृत्युसमन्विताः

Salutations to you, Lord of gods and lords! O red-eyed one, create other beings; may it be well with you. These beings are endowed with death.

इत्युक्तः प्रहसन्प्राह ब्रह्माणं परमेश्वरः नास्ति मे तादृशस्सर्गस्सृज त्वमशुभाः प्रजाः

Thus addressed, the Supreme Lord, smiling, said to Brahma: 'I have no such creation; you create inauspicious beings.'

ये त्विमे मनसा सृष्टा महात्मानो महाबलाः चरिष्यंति मया सार्धं सर्व एव हि याज्ञिकाः

But those whom I have created in mind are great souls, of great strength; all of them will act with me, and are wholly devoted to sacrifice.

इत्युक्त्वा विश्वकर्माणं विश्वभूतेश्वरो हरः सह रुद्रैः प्रजासर्गान्निवृत्तात्मा व्यतिष्ठत

Having said this, Hara, Lord of all beings, withdrew from the creation of beings along with the Rudras, and stood apart.

ततः प्रभृति देवो ऽसौ न प्रसूते प्रजाः शुभाः ऊर्ध्वरेताः स्थितः स्थाणुर्यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

From that time, that god no longer creates auspicious beings; remaining steadfast and with his seed held upward, until the dissolution of beings.

यदा पुनः प्रजाः सृष्टा न व्यवर्धन्त वेधसः तदा मैथुनजां सृष्टिं ब्रह्मा कर्तुममन्यत

When, again, the beings created by the Creator did not increase, then Brahma considered making creation through union.

न निर्गतं पुरा यस्मान्नारीणां कुलमीश्वरात् तेन मैथुनजां सृष्टिं न शशाक पितामहः

Since, previously, the race of women had not emerged from the Lord, Pitamaha was unable to make creation through union.

ततस्स विदधे बुद्धिमर्थनिश्चयगामिनीम् प्रजानमेव वृद्ध्यर्थं प्रष्टव्यः परमेश्वर

Then he resolved with a mind intent on purpose, that for the growth of beings, the Supreme Lord must be asked.

प्रसादेन विना तस्य न वर्धेरन्निमाः प्रजाः एवं संचिन्त्य विश्वात्मा तपः कर्तुं प्रचक्रमे

Without his grace, these beings would not increase; thus, having considered, the Soul of the Universe began to practice austerity.

तदाद्या परमा शक्तिरनंता लोकभाविनी आद्या सूक्ष्मतरा शुद्धा भावगम्या मनोहरा

Then, the primordial supreme power, infinite, the source of worlds, most subtle, pure, accessible through inner experience, and captivating—

निर्गुणा निष्प्रपञ्चा च निष्कला निरुपप्लवा निरंतरतरा नित्या नित्यमीश्वरपार्श्वगा

Devoid of qualities, beyond all manifestation, indivisible, unchanging, more pervasive than space, eternal, and ever abiding at the side of the Lord—