Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

वधार्थे तारकाख्यस्य दैत्येन्द्रस्येन्द्रविद्विषः ब्रह्मणाभ्यर्थितो देवो मन्दरान्तःपुरं गतः

For the destruction of Tāraka, the demon king, hater of Indra, the god, urged by Brahmā, entered the palace of Mandara.

विहृत्य सुचिरं देव्या विहारा ऽतिप्रसङ्गतः रसां रसातलं नीतामिव कृत्वाभिधां ततः

There, delighting for a long time with the goddess, deeply absorbed in pleasure, he gave her the name Rasā, as if she had been led to the netherworld.

देवीं च वंचयंस्तस्यां स्ववीर्यमतिदुर्वहम् अविसृज्य विसृज्याग्नौ हविः पूतमिवामृतम्

Deceiving the goddess there, he did not release his exceedingly powerful seed, but, as clarified butter is offered into fire, he discharged it, pure as nectar.

गंगादिष्वपि निक्षिप्य वह्निद्वारा तदंशतः तत्समाहृत्य शनकैस्तोकंस्तोकमितस्ततः

Depositing it in the Gaṅgā and other rivers, through the agency of fire, in part; then, gathering it little by little from here and there.

स्वाहया कृत्तिकारूपात्स्वभर्त्रा रममाणया सुवर्णीभूतया न्यस्तं मेरौ शरवणे क्वचित्

By Svāhā, taking the form of the Kṛttikā stars, delighting with her own husband, and made golden, it was placed somewhere on Mount Meru, in the thicket of reeds.

संदीपयित्वा कालेन तस्य भासा दिशो दश रञ्जयित्वा गिरीन्सर्वान्कांचनीकृत्य मेरुणा

In time, having kindled all ten directions with his radiance, and having colored all the mountains, making them golden with Meru’s brilliance.

ततश्चिरेण कालेन संजाते तत्र तेजसि कुमारे सुकुमारांगे कुमाराणां निदर्शने

Then, after a long time, from that energy, a boy was born there, with delicate limbs, as an exemplar among boys.

तच्छैशवं स्वरूपं च तस्य दृष्ट्वा मनोहरम् सह देवसुरैर्लोकैर्विस्मिते च विमोहिते

Seeing his charming childhood form, together with the gods, asuras, and all the worlds, they were amazed and bewildered.

देवो ऽपि स्वयमायातः पुत्रदर्शनलालसः सह देव्यांकमारोप्य ततो ऽस्य स्मेरमाननम्

The god himself came, longing to see his son; together with the goddess, he took him onto her lap, and then his face shone with a smile.

पीतामृतमिव स्नेहविवशेनान्तरात्मना देवेष्वपि च पश्यत्सु वीतरागैस्तपस्विभिः

With his inner self overcome by affection, as if he had drunk nectar, even as the gods and passionless ascetics looked on.

स्वस्य वक्षःस्थले स्वैरं नर्तयित्वा कुमारकम् अनुभूय च तत्क्रीडां संभाव्य च परस्परम्

He freely made the boy dance upon his own chest, experienced his play, and they regarded each other with affection.

स्तन्यमाज्ञापयन्देव्याः पाययित्वामृतोपमम् तवावतारो जगतां हितायेत्यनुशास्य च

He ordered the goddess to give him her breast, and had him drink the milk, like nectar; instructing him, 'Your descent is for the welfare of the worlds.'

स्वयन्देवश्च देवी च न तृप्तिमुपजग्मतुः ततः शक्रेण संधाय बिभ्यता तारकासुरात्

Yet even the god and the goddess did not attain satisfaction; then, by Indra’s arrangement, fearing Tāraka the demon—

कारयित्वाभिषेकं च सेनापत्ये दिवौकसाम् पुत्रमन्तरतः कृत्वा देवेन त्रिपुरद्विषा

Having performed the consecration for the office of commander of the gods, placing the son in their midst, by the god, the enemy of Tripura—

स्वयमंतर्हितेनैव स्कन्दमिन्द्रादिरक्षितम् तच्छक्त्या क्रौञ्चभेदिन्या युधि कालाग्निकल्पया

He himself, remaining invisible, protected Skanda together with Indra and the others, with that spear, the breaker of Krauñca, fierce as the fire of destruction, in battle.

छेदितं तारकस्यापि शिरश्शक्रभिया सह स्तुतिं चक्रुर्विशेषेण हरिधातृमुखाः सुराः

When Tāraka's head was cut off by Indra out of fear, the gods, led by Hari and Dhātṛ, offered special praise.

तथा रक्षोधिपः साक्षाद्रावणो बलगर्वितः उद्धरन्स्वभुजैर्दीर्घैः कैलासं गिरिमात्मनः

Likewise, the lord of the Rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, proud of his strength, tried to lift Mount Kailāsa with his own long arms.

तदागो ऽसहमानस्य देवदेवस्य शूलिनः पदांगुष्ठपरिस्पन्दान्ममज्ज मृदितो भुवि

Then, as the god of gods, the wielder of the trident, could not tolerate it, with a mere movement of his big toe, he pressed the mountain down into the earth.

बटोः केनचिदर्थेन स्वाश्रितस्य गतायुषः त्वरयागत्य देवेन पादांतं गमितोन्तकः

For some reason, Yama, the ender of life, came swiftly and brought the life of a certain devotee, who had sought refuge, to the feet of the god.

स्ववाहनमविज्ञाय वृषेन्द्रं वडवानलः सगलग्रहमानीतस्ततो ऽस्त्येकोदकं जगत्

Not recognizing his own vehicle, the great bull, the submarine fire, having seized all the planets, was brought forth; thus, there is a single water in the world.

अलोकविदितैस्तैस्तैर्वृत्तैरानन्दसुन्दरैः अंगहारस्वसेनेदमसकृच्चालितं जगत्

By those wondrous and delightful acts, unknown to the world, the universe, along with its hosts, was repeatedly shaken.

शान्त एव सदा सर्वमनुगृह्णाति चेच्छिवः सर्वाणि पूरयेदेव कथं शक्तेन मोचयेत्

If Shiva, who is always peaceful, were to grant everything to all, then how could he liberate anyone by his power?

अनादिकर्म वैचित्र्यमपि नात्र नियामकम् कारणं खलु कर्मापि भवेदीश्वरकारितम्

The diversity of beginningless karma is not the determining factor here; indeed, even karma as a cause is made to act by the Lord.

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन नास्तिक्यं हेतुकारकम् यथा ह्याशु निवर्तेत तथा कथय मारुत

Why speak at length? Atheism is not the cause; tell me, O Wind, how it could quickly be dispelled.

स्थने संशयितं विप्रा भवद्भिर्हेतुचोदितैः जिज्ञासा हि न नास्तिक्यं साधयेत्साधुबुद्धिषु

O Brāhmaṇas, your doubts, prompted by reasoning, are appropriate; for inquiry does not establish atheism in those of noble understanding.

प्रमणमत्र वक्ष्यामि सताम्मोहनिवर्तकम् असतां त्वन्यथाभावः प्रसादेन विना प्रभोः

I will state the means of knowledge here, which removes the delusion of the good; but for the wicked, there is a different state, unless there is the Lord's grace.

शिवस्य परिपूर्णस्य परानुग्रहमन्तरा न किंचिदपि कर्तव्यमिति साधु विनिश्चितम्

It is rightly determined that, apart from the supreme grace of the all-complete Shiva, nothing at all is to be accomplished.

स्वभाव एव पर्याप्तः परानुग्रहकर्मणि अन्यथा निस्स्वभवेन न किमप्यनुगृह्यते

His very nature alone is sufficient for the act of supreme grace; otherwise, by one devoid of nature, nothing at all can be bestowed.

परं सर्वमनुग्राह्यं पशुपाशात्मकं जगत् परस्यानुग्रहार्थं तु पत्युराज्ञासमन्वयः

Indeed, the whole world, consisting of bound souls, is to be favored; but for the sake of supreme grace, the Lord's command is in accord.