Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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—

तया परमया शक्त्या भगवंतं त्रियम्बकम् संचिन्त्य हृदये ब्रह्मा तताप परमं तपः

With that supreme power, Brahmā, meditating upon the blessed Three-eyed One in his heart, performed the highest austerity.

तीव्रेण तपसा तस्य युक्तस्य परमेष्ठिनः अचिरेणैव कालेन पिता संप्रतुतोष ह

By the intensity of his austerity, as Parameṣṭhin was thus engaged, his father was soon greatly pleased.

ततः केनचिदंशेन मूर्तिमाविश्य कामपि अर्धनारीश्वरो भूत्वा ययौ देवस्स्वयं हरः

Then, by a certain portion, entering into a form, the god Hara himself appeared as Ardhanārīśvara.

तं दृष्ट्वा परमं देवं तमसः परमव्ययम् अद्वितीयमनिर्देश्यमदृश्यमकृतात्मभिः

Seeing that supreme god, who is beyond darkness and imperishable, without a second, indescribable, invisible to those of uncreated nature—

सर्वलोकविधातारं सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरम् सर्वलोकविधायिन्या शक्त्या परमया युतम्

The creator of all worlds, the Lord of lords of all worlds, united with the supreme power that governs all creation—

अप्रतर्क्यमनाभासममेयमजरं ध्रुवम् अचलं निर्गुणं शांतमनंतमहिमास्पदम्

Unfathomable, without appearance, immeasurable, ageless, constant, unmoving, without qualities, peaceful, the abode of infinite greatness—

सर्वगं सर्वदं सर्वसदसद्व्यक्तिवर्जितम् सर्वोपमाननिर्मुक्तं शरण्यं शाश्वतं शिवम्

All-pervading, giver of all, free from all forms of existence and non-existence, beyond all comparisons, the refuge, eternal, auspicious—

प्रणम्य दंडवद्ब्रह्मा समुत्थाय कृतांजलिः श्रद्धाविनयसंपन्नैः श्राव्यैः संस्करसंयुतैः

Brahmā, bowing down in full prostration, rose with joined palms, and with words endowed with faith and humility, fit to be heard—

यथार्थयुक्तसर्वार्थैर्वेदार्थपरिबृंहितैः तुष्टाव देवं देवीं च सूक्तैः सूक्ष्मार्थगोचरैः

With words true in meaning, complete in all senses, enriched by the essence of the Vedas, he praised the God and the Goddess with hymns subtle in import—

जय देव महादेव जयेश्वर महेश्वर जय सर्वगुण श्रेष्ठ जय सर्वसुराधिप

Victory to you, O God, great God! Victory, Lord of lords! Victory, best of all virtues! Victory, Lord of all the gods!