Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

स्त्रियश्च प्रायशो भ्रष्टा भर्त्रवज्ञानकारिकाः श्वशुरद्रोहकारिण्यो निर्भया मलिनाशनाः

Most women are fallen, acting with disrespect toward their husbands, causing harm to their in-laws, fearless, and eating impure food.

कुहावभावनिरताः कुशीलास्स्मरविह्वलाः जारसंगरता नित्यं स्वस्वामिविमुखास्तथा

Engaged in deceit and false appearances, skilled in trickery, overwhelmed by passion, always involved in adulterous relations, and estranged from their own husbands.

तनया मातृपित्रोश्च भक्तिहीना दुराशयाः अविद्यापाठका नित्यं रोगग्रसितदेहकाः

Children, lacking devotion to their mother and father, with wicked intentions, never learning knowledge, their bodies are always afflicted by disease.

एतेषां नष्टबुद्धीनां स्वधर्मत्यागशीलिनाम् परलोकेपीह लोके कथं सूत गतिर्भवेत्

For those whose intellect is lost and who are inclined to abandon their own duty, how, O Sūta, can there be any path here or in the next world?

इति चिंताकुलं चित्तं जायते सततं हि नः परोपकारसदृशो नास्ति धर्मो परः खलु

Thus, our minds are always troubled by such thoughts; indeed, there is no greater dharma than helping others.

लघूपायेन येनैषां भवेत्सद्योघनाशनम् सर्वसिद्धान्तवित्त्वं हि कृपया तद्वदाधुना

By what simple means can the heavy burden of their suffering be destroyed? Out of compassion, please now reveal that by which all doctrines are truly understood.

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् मनसा शंकरं स्मृत्वा सूतः प्रोवाच तान्मुनीन्

Hearing these words of the sages, whose minds were purified, Sūta, remembering Śaṅkara in his heart, spoke to those sages.

साधुपृष्टं साधवो वस्त्रैलोक्यहितकारकम् गुरुं स्मृत्वा भवत्स्नेहाद्वक्ष्ये तच्छृणुतादरात्

O virtuous ones, you have asked well, for the benefit of all the worlds. Remembering the Guru, out of affection for you, I shall speak—listen with reverence.

वेदांतसारसर्वस्वं पुराणं शैवमुत्तमम् सर्वाघौघोद्धारकरं परत्र परमार्थदम्

This supreme Śaiva Purāṇa is the very essence and entirety of Vedānta, capable of removing all heaps of sin and bestowing the highest truth in the hereafter.

कलिकल्मषविध्वंसि यस्मिञ्च्छिवयशः परम् विजृम्भते सदा विप्राश्चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्

Within it, the supreme glory of Śiva ever expands, destroying the impurities of the Kali age, and it grants the fruits of the four aims of life to the Brāhmaṇas.

तस्याध्ययनमात्रेण पुराणस्य द्विजोत्तमाः सर्वोत्तमस्य शैवस्य ते यास्यंति सुसद्गतिम्

O best of twice-born, by merely studying this most excellent Śaiva Purāṇa, one attains the highest and most auspicious state.

तावद्विजृंभते पापं ब्रह्महत्यापुरस्सरम् यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

Sin, led by the killing of a Brāhmaṇa, will flourish as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्कलिमहोत्पाताः संचरिष्यंति निर्भयाः यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

Great calamities of the Kali age will roam about fearlessly as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि विवदंति परस्परम् यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

All the scriptures will dispute with each other as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्स्वरूपं दुर्बोधं शिवस्य महतामपि यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नो देष्यति जगत्यहो

Even the great will find Śiva's true nature difficult to comprehend as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावद्यमभटाः क्रूराः संचरिष्यंति निर्भयाः यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

Cruel messengers of Yama will roam about fearlessly as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वपुराणानि प्रगर्जंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

All the other Purāṇas will thunder forth on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वाणि तीर्थानि विवदंति महीतले यावछिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

All the sacred places will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वाणि मंत्राणि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the mantras will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वाणि क्षेत्राणि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the holy fields will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वाणि पीठानि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the sacred seats will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वाणि दानानि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the acts of charity will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वे च ते देवा विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the gods themselves will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वे च सिद्धान्ता विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All doctrines continue to dispute upon the earth until the Shiva Purana is proclaimed here.

अस्य शैवपुराणस्य कीर्तनश्रवणाद्द्विजाः फलं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि कार्त्स्न्येन मुनिसत्तमाः

O twice-born, I am unable to fully describe the fruit gained from reciting and hearing this Shiva Purana, O best of sages.

तथापि तस्य माहात्म्यं वक्ष्ये किंचित्तु वोनघाः चित्तमाधाय शृणुत व्यासेनोक्तं पुरा मम

Nevertheless, I will declare a little of its greatness; fix your minds and listen to what Vyasa once spoke to me.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि श्लोकं श्लोकार्धमेव च यः पठेद्भक्तिसंयुक्तस्स पापान्मुच्यते क्षणात्

Whoever recites this Shiva Purana, even a verse or half a verse, with devotion, is freed from sins in an instant.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि यः प्रत्यहमतंद्रितः यथाशक्ति पठेद्भक्त्या स जीवन्मुक्त उच्यते

Whoever, without negligence, recites this Shiva Purana daily with devotion, to the best of their ability, is called liberated while living.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि यो भक्त्यार्चयते सदा दिने दिने ऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम्

Whoever always worships this Shiva Purana with devotion, day by day, surely attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.