Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं भक्त्या यजति यश्शिवम् मुच्यते पातकैः सर्वैर्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Even if one has committed great sin, if he worships Shiva with devotion, he is freed from all sins—there is no doubt about this.

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन वृथा दानं वृथा तपः वृथा यज्ञो वृथा होमः शिवनिन्दारतस्य तु

Why say more? Charity, austerity, sacrifice, and oblation are all in vain for one who delights in reviling Shiva.

ततः सनारायणकास्सरुद्राः सलोकपालास्समरे सुरौघाः गणेंद्रचापच्युतबाणविद्धाः प्रदुद्रुवुर्गाढरुजाभिभूताः

Then, the hosts of gods—along with Narayana, Rudras, and the guardians of the worlds—struck by the arrows loosed from the bow of the lord of the hosts, fled the battle, overwhelmed by intense pain.

चेलुः क्वचित्केचन शीर्णकेशाः सेदुः क्वचित्केचन दीर्घगात्राः पेतुः क्वचित्केचन भिन्नवक्त्रा नेशुः क्वचित्केचन देववीराः

Some divine heroes wandered with hair disheveled, some staggered with limbs outstretched, some fell with faces shattered, and some could no longer move.

केचिच्च तत्र त्रिदशा विपन्ना विस्रस्तवस्त्राभरणास्त्रशस्त्राः निपेतुरुद्भासितदीनमुद्रा मदं च दर्पं च बलं च हित्वा

There, some of the gods perished, their garments, ornaments, weapons, and armor scattered, collapsing with expressions of utter distress, having abandoned pride, arrogance, and strength.

सस्मुत्पथप्रस्थितमप्रधृष्यो विक्षिप्य दक्षाध्वरमक्षतास्त्रैः बभौ गणेशस्स गणेश्वराणां मध्ये स्थितः सिंह इवर्षभाणाम्

Having routed the path and scattered Daksha's sacrifice with unbroken weapons, the lord of the hosts stood among the leaders of the hosts, shining like a lion among bulls.

इति सञ्छिन्नभिन्नांगा देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः क्षणात्कष्टां दशामेत्य त्रेसुः स्तोकावशेषिता

Thus, with their bodies shattered and broken, the gods led by Vishnu, in a moment reached a dire state, trembling, with only a few remaining.

त्रस्तांस्तान्समरे वीरान् देवानन्यांश्च वै गणाः प्रमथाः परमक्रुद्धा वीरभद्रप्रणोदिताः

The Pramatha hosts, incited by Virabhadra and filled with supreme fury, pursued those terrified heroes—the gods and others—on the battlefield.

प्रगृह्य च तथा दोषं निगडैरायसैर्दृढैः बबन्धुः पाणिपादेषु कंधरेषूदरेषु च

Seizing them, they bound their hands, feet, necks, and bellies with strong iron fetters.

तस्मिन्नवसरे ब्रह्मा भद्रमद्रीन्द्रजानुतम् सारथ्याल्लब्धवात्सल्यः प्रार्थयन् प्रणतो ऽब्रवीत्

At that moment, Brahma, the blessed one, best of mountains and son of Indra, moved by compassion as a charioteer, approached and spoke in supplication.

अलं क्रोधेन भगवन्नष्टाश्चैते दिवौकसः प्रसीद क्षम्यतां सर्वं रोमजैस्सह सुव्रत

Enough of this anger, O Lord! These dwellers of heaven are destroyed. Be gracious—let all be forgiven, together with the Romajas, O virtuous one.

एवं विज्ञापितस्तेन ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना शमं जगाम संप्रीतो गणपस्तस्य गौरवात्

Thus, having been informed by that Brahmā, the supreme lord, the attendant, out of respect, became peaceful and pleased.

देवाश्च लब्धावसरा देवदेवस्य मंत्रिणः धारयन्तो ऽञ्जलीन्मूर्ध्नि तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तवैः

And the gods, seizing the opportunity, ministers of the god of gods, holding their hands in reverence upon their heads, praised him with various hymns.

रुद्रभद्राय रुद्राणां पतये रुद्रभूतये

To Rudra the auspicious, lord of the Rudras, embodiment of Rudra.

कालाग्निरुद्ररूपाय कालकामांगहारिणे देवतानां शिरोहन्त्रे दक्षस्य च दुरात्मनः

To the form of Kālāgni Rudra, destroyer of the bodies of Kāla and Kāma, slayer of the heads of the gods and of the wicked Dakṣa.

संसर्गादस्य पापस्य दक्षस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः शासिताः समरे वीर त्वया वयमनिन्दिता

Because of association with the sin of Dakṣa, who acts without blemish, we have been punished in battle by you, O hero, and are blameless.

दग्धाश्चामी वयं सर्वे त्वत्तो भीताश्च भो प्रभो त्वमेव गतिरस्माकं त्राहि नश्शरणागतान्

We have all been burned by you, O lord, and are afraid; you alone are our refuge, protect us who have come for shelter.

तुष्टस्त्वेवं स्तुतो देवान् विसृज्य निगडात्प्रभुः आनयद्देवदेवस्य समीपममरानिह

Thus praised and pleased, the lord released the gods from bondage and brought them here to the presence of the god of gods.

देवोपि तत्र भगवानन्तरिक्षे स्थितः प्रभुः सगणः सर्वगः शर्वस्सर्वलोकमहेश्वरः

There, the blessed lord, standing in the sky, with his attendants, all-pervading Śarva, the great lord of all worlds.

तं दृष्ट्वा परमेशानं देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः प्रीता अपि च भीताश्च नमश्चक्रुर्महेश्वरम्

Seeing the supreme lord, the gods led by Viṣṇu, though pleased, were also fearful and bowed to Maheśvara.

दृष्ट्वा तानमरान्भीतान्प्रणतार्तिहरो हरः इदमाह महादेवः प्रहसन् प्रेक्ष्य पार्वतीम्

Seeing those gods, fearful, Hara, remover of the distress of the bowed, spoke these words, smiling, as he looked at Pārvatī.

माभैष्ट त्रिदशास्सर्वे यूयं वै मामिकाः प्रजाः अनुग्रहार्थमेवेह धृतो दंडः कृपालुना

Do not fear, all you gods; you are indeed my own people. Only for the sake of granting favor was punishment administered by the compassionate one.

भवतां निर्जराणां हि क्षान्तो ऽस्माभिर्व्यतिक्रमः क्रुद्धेष्वस्मासु युष्माकं न स्थितिर्न च जीवितम्

Your transgression, O immortals, has been forgiven by us. When we are angry, neither your position nor your life remains.

इत्युक्तास्त्रिदशास्सर्वे शर्वेणामिततेजसा सद्यो विगतसन्देहा ननृतुर्विबुधा मुदा

Thus addressed by Śarva, of immeasurable brilliance, all the gods at once, freed from doubt, danced joyfully.

प्रसन्नमनसो भूत्वानन्दविह्वलमानसाः स्तुतिमारेभिरे कर्तुं शंकरस्य दिवौकसः

Their minds becoming clear and overwhelmed with bliss, the dwellers of heaven began to compose hymns to Śaṃkara.

त्वमेव देवाखिललोककर्ता पाता च हर्ता परमेश्वरो ऽसि कविष्णुरुद्राख्यस्वरूपभेदै रजस्तमस्सत्त्वधृतात्ममूर्ते

You alone, O god, are the creator, protector, and destroyer of all worlds; you are the supreme lord, manifest in the forms of Kavi, Viṣṇu, and Rudra, whose essence sustains rajas, tamas, and sattva.

सर्वमूर्ते नमस्ते ऽस्तु विश्वभावन पावन अमूर्ते भक्तहेतोर्हि गृहीताकृतिसौख्यद

Salutations to you, who are of all forms, creator of the universe, purifier; to the formless one, who, for the sake of devotees, has assumed a pleasing form.

चंद्रो ऽगदो हि देवेश कृपातस्तव शंकर निमज्जनान्मृतः प्राप सुखं मिहिरजाजलिः

The moon, O lord of gods, was healed by your compassion, O Śaṃkara; after sinking, it attained happiness from the offering of the sun's rays.

सीमन्तिनी हतधवा तव पूजनतः प्रभो सौभाग्यमतुलं प्राप सोमवारव्रतात्सुतान्

Sīmantinī, whose husband was slain, O lord, by worshipping you, attained incomparable good fortune and sons from the vow of the moon day.