प्रबद्धहस्तौ किल तौ तदंतिके तमेव देवं जगतुर्जगद्गुरुम्
With their hands bound, those two indeed, standing nearby, praised that very god, the teacher of the world.
नमो निष्कलरूपाय नमो निष्कलतेजसे नमः सकलनाथाय नमस्ते सकलात्मने
Salutations to the one of formless nature; salutations to the one of formless radiance; salutations to the lord of all forms; salutations to the soul of all.
प्रणववाच्याय नमः प्रणवलिंगिने नमः सृष्ट्यादिकर्त्रे च नमः पञ्चमुखायते
Salutations to the One denoted by the syllable Om, salutations to the One whose form is the Om-shaped liṅga, salutations to the Creator of creation and all that follows, salutations to the One with five faces.
पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपाय पञ्च कृत्यायते नमः आत्मने ब्रह्मणे तुभ्यमनंतगुणशक्तये
Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of the five Brahmas, who performs the five acts; to You, the Self, the Supreme, of infinite qualities and powers.
सकलाकलरूपाय शंभवे गुरवे नमः इति स्तुत्वा गुरुं पद्यैर्ब्रह्मा विष्णुश् च नेमतुः
Salutations to Śambhu, the Guru, who is of all and partless forms. Thus, having praised the Guru with verses, Brahmā and Viṣṇu bowed.
वत्सकौ सर्वतत्त्वं च कथितं दर्शितं च वाम् जपतं प्रणवं मंत्रं देवीदिष्टं मदात्मकम्
O dear ones, all the principles have been explained and shown to you. Recite the mantra Om, which was given by the Goddess and is of My own essence.
ज्ञानं च सुस्थिरं भाग्यं सर्वं भवति शाश्वतम् आर्द्रायां च चतुर्दश्यां तज्जाप्यं त्वक्षयं भवेत्
Through this, knowledge becomes firm, fortune becomes everlasting, and all is made eternal. On the fourteenth day, when Ardra is present, reciting this brings inexhaustible merit.
सूर्यगत्या महार्द्रायामेकं कोटिगुणं भवेत् मृगशीर्षांतिमो भागः पुनर्वस्वादिमस्तथा
When Ardra coincides with the Sun's course, the merit becomes ten million times greater. The final portion of Mṛgaśīrṣa and the beginning of Punarvasu are likewise auspicious.
आर्द्रासमः सदा ज्ञेयः पूजाहोमादितर्पणे दर्शनं तु प्रभाते च प्रातःसंगवकालयोः
Ardra should always be regarded as equal for worship, offerings, and oblations. The sight (of the liṅga) at dawn, during the time of early morning, is especially meritorious.
चतुर्दशी तथा ग्राह्या निशीथव्यापिनी भवेत् प्रदोषव्यापिनी चैव परयुक्ता प्रशस्यते
The fourteenth day that extends into midnight should be observed, and if it extends into the evening, it is especially praised.
लिंगं बेरं च मेतुल्यं यजतां लिंगमुत्तमम् तस्माल्लिंगं परं पूज्यं बेरादपि मुमुक्षुभिः
The liṅga and the image (bera) are considered equal for worship, but the liṅga is supreme. Therefore, those seeking liberation should worship the liṅga above the image.
लिंगमोंकारमंत्रेण बेरं पञ्चाक्षरेण तु स्वयमेव हि द्रव्यैः प्रतिष्ठाप्यं परैरपि
The liṅga should be established with the Om mantra, and the image with the five-syllable mantra. Both should be consecrated with proper materials, either by oneself or by others.
पूजयेदुपचारैश्च मत्पदं सुलभं भवेत् इति शास्य तथा शिष्यौ तत्रैवां ऽतर्हितः शिवः
By worshipping with offerings, My state is easily attained. Thus instructing the two disciples, Śiva disappeared right there.
कथं लिंगं प्रतिष्ठाप्यं कथं वातस्य लक्षणम् कथं वा तत्समभ्यर्च्यं देशे काले च केन हि
How should the liṅga be established? What are the characteristics of the site? How should it be worshipped, and in what place, time, and by whom?
युष्मदर्थं प्रवक्ष्यामि बुद्ध्यतामवधानतः अनुकूले शुभे काले पुण्ये तीर्थे तटे तथा
For your sake, I will explain—listen attentively. At an auspicious and favorable time, in a holy place or on a riverbank,
यथेष्टं लिंगमारोप्यं यत्र स्यान्नित्यमर्चनम् पार्थिवेन तथाप्येनं तैजसेन यथारुचि
The liṅga should be installed as desired, wherever regular worship can be performed—whether made of earth, stone, or metal, according to preference.
कल्पलक्षणसंयुक्तं लिंगं पूजाफलं लभेत् सर्वलक्षणसंयुक्तं सद्यः पूजाफलप्रदम्
A liṅga endowed with the marks of a wish-fulfilling tree grants the fruit of worship; one with all auspicious marks immediately bestows the fruit of worship.
चरे विशिष्यते सूक्ष्मं स्थावरे स्थूलमेव हि सलक्षणं सपीठं च स्थापयेच्छिवनिर्मितम्
The subtle form is especially praised for moving (portable) liṅgas, while the gross form is for fixed ones. It should be installed with marks and a pedestal, made according to Śiva's ordinance.
मंडलं चतुरस्रं वा त्रिकोणमथवा तथा खट्वांगवन्मध्यसूक्ष्मं लिंगपीठं महाफलं
The pedestal for the liṅga may be a square, a triangle, or like a club, with a subtle center. Such a liṅga-pedestal yields great fruit.
प्रथमं मृच्छिलादिभ्यो लिगं लोहादिभिः कृतम् येन लिंगं तेन पीठं स्थावरे हि विशिष्यते
First, the liṅga should be made from clay, stone, or similar materials, or from metals and the like. The pedestal should be made from the same material as the liṅga, and is especially suited for fixed installations.
लिंगं पीठं चरे त्वेकं लिंगं बाणकृतं विना लिंगप्रमाणं कर्त्ःणां द्वादशांगुलमुत्तमम्
One should install a single liṅga and pedestal, except for a liṅga made by Bāṇa; the proper measure for the liṅga to be made is twelve aṅgulas, which is excellent.
न्यूनं चेत्फलमल्पं स्यादधिकं नैव दूष्यते कर्तुरेकांगुलन्यूनं चरेपि च तथैव हि
If it is less, the result will be small; if it is more, there is no fault. Even if the maker falls short by one aṅgula, the same applies.
आदौ विमानं शिल्पेन कार्यं देवगणैर्युतम् तत्र गर्भगृहे रम्ये दृढे दर्पणसंनिभो भूषिते
First, a temple should be constructed with skill, accompanied by groups of deities; within it, in a beautiful and strong sanctum, adorned like a mirror,
नवरत्नैश्च दिग्द्वारे च प्रधानकैः नीलं रक्तं च वै दूर्यं श्यामं मारकतं तथा
with nine gems at the cardinal doors as the main ones: sapphire, ruby, coral, crystal, and emerald as well,
मुक्ताप्रवालगोमेदवज्राणि नवरत्नकम् मध्ये लिंगं महद्द्रव्यं निक्षिपेत्सहवैदिके
pearl, coral, hessonite, diamond—the nine gems; in the center, a great substance should be placed along with Vedic rites.
संपूज्य लिंगं सद्याद्यैः पञ्चस्थाने यथाक्रमम् अग्नौ च हुत्वा बहुधा हविषास कलं च माम्
Having worshipped the liṅga with the prescribed offerings in the five places, and having made many offerings into the fire, one should also offer me a portion.
अभ्यर्च्य गुरुमाचार्यमर्थैः कामैश्च बांधवम् दद्यादैश्वर्यमर्थिभ्यो जडमप्यजडं तथा
Having honored the guru and teacher with wealth and desired objects, and relatives as well, one should give prosperity to those who seek it, even to the dull and the wise alike.
स्थावरं जंगमं जीवं सर्वं संतोष्य यत्नतः सुवर्णपूरिते श्वभ्रे नवरत्नैश्च पूरिते
Having satisfied with care all beings—immobile, mobile, and living—by filling a pit with gold and with the nine gems,
सद्यादि ब्रह्म चोच्चार्य ध्यात्वा देवं परं शुभम् उदीर्य च महामंत्रमोंकारं नादघोषितम्
Having recited the sadyādi-brahma, meditating on the supreme auspicious deity, and uttering the great mantra Oṃkāra, resounding with sound,
लिंगं तत्र प्रतिष्ठाप्य लिगं पीठेन योजयेत् लिंगं सपीठं निक्षिप्य नित्यलेपेन बंधयेत्
There, having established the liṅga, one should join the liṅga with the pedestal; having placed the liṅga with the pedestal, one should bind it with permanent cement.