Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

सर्वे पाशुपताः सिद्धा भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञा वेदवेदांगपारगाः

All these accomplished ones are Pāśupatas, their bodies smeared with ash, knowing the true essence of all scriptures, and thoroughly versed in the Vedas and their branches.

शिवाश्रमरतास्सर्वे शिवज्ञानपरायणाः सर्वे संगविनिर्मुक्ताः शिवैकासक्तचेतसः

All are devoted to the hermitage of Shiva, dedicated to the knowledge of Shiva, entirely free from attachment, with minds absorbed solely in Shiva.

सर्वद्वंद्वसहा धीराः सर्वभूतहिते रताः ऋजवो मृदवः स्वस्था जितक्रोधा जितेंद्रियाः

Steadfast in enduring all dualities, courageous, intent on the welfare of all beings, upright, gentle, self-composed, having conquered anger and the senses.

रुद्राक्षमालाभरणास्त्रिपुंड्रांकितमस्तकाः शिखाजटास्सर्वजटा अजटा मुंडशीर्षकाः

Adorned with garlands of Rudrākṣa beads, their foreheads marked with three lines, some with topknots, some with matted hair, some without matted hair, and some with shaven heads.

फलमूलाशनप्रायाः प्राणायामपरायणाः शिवाभिमानसंपन्नाः शिवध्यानैकतत्पराः

Sustained mostly on fruits and roots, devoted to breath-control, endowed with the spirit of Shiva, wholly intent on meditation upon Shiva.

समुन्मथितसंसारविषवृक्षांकुरोद्गमाः प्रयातुमेव सन्नद्धाः परं शिवपुरं प्रति

Having uprooted the sprouts of the poisonous tree of worldly existence, they are prepared only to proceed toward the supreme city of Shiva.

सदेशिकानिमान्मत्वा नित्यं यश्शिवमर्चयेत् स याति शिवसायुज्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Whoever, recognizing these as teachers, always worships Shiva, attains union with Shiva—of this there is no doubt.

भगवन्सर्वयोगींद्र गणेश्वर मुनीश्वर षडाननसमप्रख्य सर्वज्ञाननिधे गुरो

O Lord, master of all yogis, leader of the hosts, chief of sages, equal in splendor to six-faced Karttikeya, treasure-house of all knowledge, revered teacher—

प्रायस्त्वमवतीर्योर्व्यां पाशविच्छित्तये नृणाम् महर्षिवपुरास्थाय स्थितो ऽसि परमेश्वर

You have mostly descended to earth to cut the bonds of men, O Supreme Lord, dwelling in the city of great sages.

अन्यथा हि जगत्यस्मिन् देवो वा दानवो ऽपि वा त्वत्तोन्यः परमं भावं को जानीयाच्छिवात्मकम्

Otherwise, in this world, who other than you—whether god or demon—could know the supreme state, the essence of Shiva?

तस्मात्तव मुखोद्गीर्णं साक्षादिव पिनाकिनः शिवज्ञानामृतं पीत्वा न मे तृप्तमभून्मनः

Therefore, having drunk the nectar of Shiva-knowledge that flowed directly from your mouth, O wielder of the bow, my mind has not been satisfied.

साक्षात्सर्वजगत्कर्तुर्भर्तुरंकं समाश्रिता भगवन्किन्नु पप्रच्छ भर्तारं परमेश्वरी

Directly resting in the lap of the Lord, the creator and sustainer of all worlds—O Lord, what indeed did the supreme Lady ask her husband?

स्थाने पृष्टं त्वया कृष्ण तद्वक्ष्यामि यथातथम् भवभक्तस्य युक्तस्य तव कल्याणचेतसः

Rightly have you asked, O Krishna; I shall tell you truly, for you are devoted to Shiva, disciplined, and of auspicious mind.

महीधरवरे दिव्ये मंदरे चारुकंदरे देव्या सह महादेवो दिव्यो ध्यानगतो ऽभवत्

On the splendid Mandara, the best of mountains, in a lovely cave, the great Lord, together with the goddess, entered into divine meditation.

तदा देव्याः प्रियसखी सुस्मितास्या शुभावती फुल्लान्यतिमनोज्ञानि पुष्पाणि समुदाहरत्

Then, the goddess’s dear companion, with a smiling face and auspicious appearance, brought forth fully blossomed, exceedingly charming flowers.

ततः स्वमंकमारोप्य देवीं देववरोरहः अलंकृत्य च तैः पुष्पैरास्ते हृष्टतरः स्वयम्

Thereupon, the Lord of gods, placing the goddess on his lap, adorned her with those flowers and sat, exceedingly delighted.

अथांतःपुरचारिण्यो देव्यो दिव्यविभूषणाः अंतरंगा गणेन्द्राश्च सर्वलोकमहेश्वरीम्

Then, the goddesses of the inner chambers, adorned with divine ornaments, and the intimate leaders of the hosts, approached the great Lady of all worlds.

भर्तारं परिपूर्णं च सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् चामरासक्तहस्ताश्च देवीं देवं सिषेविरे

With fly-whisks in hand, the goddesses served the Lord and Lady—he who is the perfect husband and the great Lord of all worlds.

ततः प्रियाः कथा वृत्ता विनोदाय महेशयोः त्राणाय च नृणां लोके ये शिवं शरणं गताः

Then, delightful stories and events were recounted for the enjoyment of the Great Lord and Lady, and for the protection of those people in the world who have sought refuge in Shiva.

तदावसरमालोक्य सर्वलोकमहेश्वरी भर्तारं परिपप्रच्छ सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्

Observing the moment, the great Lady of all worlds questioned her husband, the great Lord of all worlds.

केन वश्यो महादेवो मर्त्यानां मंदचेतसाम् आत्मतत्त्वाद्यशक्तानामात्मनामकृतात्मनाम्

By what means is the great god made subject to mortals of dull understanding, who lack the power of self-knowledge and have not realized the true nature of the self?

न कर्मणा न तपसा न जपैर्नासनादिभिः न ज्ञानेन न चान्येन वश्यो ऽहं श्रद्धया विना

Not by action, nor by austerity, nor by recitation, nor by postures and the like, nor by knowledge, nor by any other means am I made subject—without faith.

श्रद्धा मय्यस्ति चेत्पुंसां येन केनापि हेतुना वश्यः स्पृश्यश्च दृश्यश्च पूज्यस्संभाष्य एव च

If there is faith in me in a person, for whatever reason, then I become accessible, touchable, visible, worshipped, and approachable in speech.

साध्या तस्मान्मयि शद्धा मां वशीकर्तुमिच्छता श्रद्धा हेतुस्स्वधर्मस्य रक्षणं वर्णिनामिह

Therefore, let faith in me be cultivated by one who wishes to bring me under control; faith is the cause of upholding one’s own duty here among those with social order.

स्ववर्णाश्रमधर्मेण वर्तते यस्तु मानवः तस्यैव भवति श्रद्धा मयि नान्यस्य कस्यचित्

A person who lives according to the duty of their own class and stage of life—only that person has faith in me, not anyone else.

आम्नायसिद्धमखिलं धर्ममाश्रमिणामिह ब्रह्मणा कथितं पूर्वं ममैवाज्ञापुरस्सरम्

All the duties established by tradition for those in the stages of life here were formerly taught by Brahma, in accordance with my command.

स तु पैतामहो धर्मो बहुवित्तक्रियान्वितः नात्यन्त फलभूयिष्ठः क्लेशाया ससमन्वितः तेन धर्मेण महतां श्रद्धां प्राप्य सुदुर्ल्लभाम्

That ancestral duty, accompanied by many rituals and acts of charity, does not yield excessive fruit, but is attended by hardship; by that great duty, one attains faith, which is very difficult to obtain.

वर्णिनो ये प्रपद्यंते मामनन्यसमाश्रयाः तेषां सुखेन मार्गेण धर्मकामार्थमुक्तयः

Those who belong to the social orders and take refuge in me alone, for them, the paths to virtue, desire, wealth, and liberation are attained with ease.

वर्णाश्रमसमाचारो मया भूयः प्रकल्पितः तस्मिन्भक्तिमतामेव मदीयानां तु वर्णिनाम्

The conduct of the social orders and stages of life was further established by me, but only for my own devotees among those who follow the social order.