Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

हरिश्च तत्सत्यमितीव चिंतयंश्चकार तस्मै विधये नमः स्वयम् षोडशैरुपचारैश्च पूजयामास तं विधिम्

And Hari, thinking that this was true, himself bowed to Brahma and worshipped him with sixteen offerings.

विधिं प्रहर्तुं शठमग्निलिंगतः स ईश्वरस्तत्र बभूव साकृतिः समुत्थितः स्वामि विलोकनात्पुनः प्रकंपपाणिः परिगृह्य तत्पदम्

As Brahma, deceitful, was about to strike the linga of fire, the Lord appeared there in visible form. Seeing the Lord, his hands trembled; again he grasped his feet.

आद्यंतहीनवपुषि त्वयि मोहबुद्ध्या भूयाद्विमर्श इह नावति कामनोत्थः स त्वं प्रसीद करुणाकर कश्मलं नौ मृष्टं क्षमस्व विहितं भवतैव केल्या

Upon you, whose form is without beginning or end, may there not arise, through delusion, any further desire-born confusion here. Be gracious, O source of compassion; forgive the stain that has been committed by your own sport.

वत्सप्रसन्नो ऽस्मि हरे यतस्त्वमीशत्वमिच्छन्नपि सत्यवाक्यम् ब्रूयास्ततस्ते भविता जनेषु साम्यं मया सत्कृतिरप्यलप्थाः

O Hari, I am pleased with you, my child, because, though desiring lordship, you spoke the truth. Therefore, among people, you shall have equality with me, and you shall receive my honor.

इतः परं ते पृथगात्मनश्च क्षेत्रप्रतिष्ठोत्सवपूजनं च

From now on, you and your distinct self shall perform the festival and worship for the establishment of the sacred site.

इति देवः पुरा प्रीतः सत्येन हरये परम् ददौ स्वसाम्यमत्यर्थं देवसंघे च पश्यति

Thus, long ago, the pleased Lord gave supreme equality to Hari because of truthfulness, as all the assembly of gods looked on.

ससर्जाथ महादेवः पुरुषं कंचिदद्भुतम् भैरवाख्यं भ्रुवोर्मध्याद्ब्रह्मदर्पजिघांसया

Then the great god created a certain wondrous being, called Bhairava, from between his brows, desiring to subdue Brahma's pride.

स वै तदा तत्र पतिं प्रणम्य शिवमंगणे किं कार्यं करवाण्यत्र शीघ्रमाज्ञापय प्रभो

He then bowed to the Lord in Shiva's assembly and said, 'What should I do here? Command me quickly, O Lord.'

वत्सयो ऽयं विधिः साक्षाज्जगतामाद्यदैवतम् नूनमर्चय खड्गं स्वं तिग्मेन जवसा परम्

This Brahma, the direct progenitor of the worlds, is indeed to be worshipped. Strike him swiftly with your sharp sword.

स वै गृहीत्वैककरेण केशं तत्पञ्चमं दृप्तमसत्यभाषणम् छित्त्वा शिरांस्यस्य निहंतुमुद्यतः प्रकंपयन्खड्गमतिस्फुटं करैः

He then, with one hand, seized the fifth head—proud and speaking falsehoods—cut it off, and, intending to slay him, brandished his sword fiercely with his hands.

पिता तवोत्सृष्टविभूषणांबरस्रगुत्तरीयामलकेशसंहतिः प्रवातरंभेव लतेव चंचलः पपात वै भैरवपादपंकजे

Your father, with his ornaments, garments, garlands, upper cloth, and matted hair cast aside, became unsteady like a creeper at the onset of a storm, and fell at Bhairava's lotus feet.

तावद्विधिं तात दिदृक्षुरच्युतः कृपालुरस्मत्पतिपादपल्लवम् निषिच्य बाष्पैरवदत्कृतांजलिर्यथा शिशुः स्वं पितरं कलाक्षरम्

Then, desiring to see the ordinance, the compassionate Acyuta placed the dust of our lord's lotus feet upon his head, and, with hands joined and tears streaming, spoke as a child to his father, uttering faltering words.

त्वया प्रयत्नेन पुरा हि दत्तं यदस्य पञ्चाननमीशचिह्नम् तस्मात्क्षमस्वाद्यमनुग्रहार्हं कुरु प्रसादं विधये ह्यमुष्मै

O Lord, what was once given by you with effort—the five-faced mark, the sign of sovereignty—because of that, forgive him; he is worthy of your grace. Show favor to him for the sake of the ordinance.

इत्यर्थितो ऽच्युतेनेशस्तुष्टः सुरगणांगणे निवर्तयामास तदा भैरवं ब्रह्मदंडतः

Thus entreated by Acyuta, the Lord, pleased, in the assembly of the gods, then withdrew Bhairava from the punishment of Brahmā.

अथाह देवः कितवं विधिं विगतकंधरम् ब्रह्मंस्त्वमर्हणाकांक्षी शठमीशत्वमास्थितः

Then the god spoke to the deceitful Vidhi, who was now without his head: 'O Brahmā, you who desire worship, you hypocrite, you have assumed the lordship.'

नातस्ते सत्कृतिर्लोके भूयात्स्थानोत्सवादिकम् स्वामिन्प्रसीदाद्य महाविभूते मन्ये वरं वरद मे शिरसः प्रमोक्षम्

May you never again receive honor in the world—no festivals or seats of respect. O Lord of great glory, be gracious now; I think the release of my head is the only boon I desire.

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते बंधवे विश्वयोनये सहिष्णवे सर्वदोषाणां शंभवे शैलधन्वने

Salutations to you, O Blessed One, kinsman, source of the universe, patient bearer of all faults, Śambhu, wielder of the mountain bow.

अराजभयमेतद्वै जगत्सर्वं न शिष्यति ततस्त्वं जहि दंडार्हं वह लोकधुरं शिशो

Without a ruler, this entire world would not endure out of fear; therefore, punish the one deserving of chastisement, and bear the burden of the world, O child.

वरं ददामि ते तत्र गृहाण दुर्लभं परम् वैतानिकेषु गृह्येषु यज्ञे च भवान् गुरुः

I grant you a boon—accept this rare and supreme gift: in all Vaitānika and domestic sacrifices, you shall be the preceptor.

निष्फलस्त्वदृते यज्ञः सांगश्च सहदक्षिणः अथाह देवः कितवं केतकं कूटसाक्षिणम्

Without you, sacrifice—even with all its limbs and offerings—bears no fruit. Then the god spoke to the deceitful ketaka, the false witness.

रे रे केतक दुष्टस्त्वं शठ दूरमितो व्रज ममापि प्रेम ते पुष्पे मा भूत्पूजास्वितः परम्

O ketaka, you are wicked and deceitful—go far from here! May my worship never again include your flower, nor may it be supreme therein.

इत्युक्ते तत्र देवेन केतकं देवजातयः सर्वानि वारयामासुस्तत्पार्श्वादन्यतस्तदा

When the god spoke thus, all the divine beings there restrained the ketaka from approaching, keeping it away from his side.

नमस्ते नाथ मे जन्मनिष्फलं भवदाज्ञया सफलं क्रियतां तात क्षम्यतां मम किल्बिषम्

Salutations to you, Lord! Let my birth, made fruitless by your command, now be made fruitful, O Father. Forgive my sin.

ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं पापं नाशयत्येव ते स्मृतिः तादृशे त्वयि दृष्टे मे मिथ्यादोषः कुतो भवेत्

Sin, whether born of knowledge or ignorance, is surely destroyed by remembrance of you. When one beholds you thus, how could false blame arise for me?

तथा स्तुतस्तु भगवान्केतकेन सभातले न मे त्वद्धारणं योग्यं सत्यवागहमीश्वरः

Thus praised by ketaka on the assembly floor, the Lord said: 'It is not fitting for me to bear you; I am one who speaks the truth, O Lord.'

मदीयास्त्वां धरिष्यंइ जन्म ते सफलं ततः त्वं वै वितानव्याजेन ममोपरि भविष्यसि

But I shall bear you as my own; thus your birth will be fulfilled. By the pretext of the canopy, you shall be above me.

इत्यनुगृह्य भगवान्केतकं विधिमाधवौ विरराज सभामध्ये सर्वदेवैरभिष्टुतः

Thus having shown favor to ketaka, the Lord, along with Vidhi and Mādhava, shone in the midst of the assembly, praised by all the gods.

तत्रांतरे तौ च नाथं प्रणम्य विधिमाधवौ बद्धांजलिपुटौ तूष्णीं तस्थतुर्दक्षवामगौ

Meanwhile, Vidhi and Mādhava, having bowed to the Lord, stood silently to the right and left, with hands joined in reverence.

तत्र संस्थाप्य तौ देवं सकुटुंबं वरासने पूजयामासतुः पूज्यं पुण्यैः पुरुषवस्तुभिः

There, seating the Lord with his family upon a seat of honor, they worshipped him with pure offerings worthy of the noble.