Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

ध्यानम्मद्रूपचिंताद्यं नात्माद्यर्थसमाधयः ममागमार्थविज्ञानं ज्ञानं नान्यार्थवेदनम्

Meditation is contemplation on my form and the like, not absorption in the self or other objects; knowledge is understanding the meaning of my scriptures, not knowledge of other things.

बाह्ये वाभ्यंतरे वाथ यत्र स्यान्मनसो रतिः प्राग्वासनावशाद्देवि तत्त्वनिष्ठां समाचरेत्

Whether externally or internally, wherever the mind finds delight, O Devi, one should steadfastly practice the truth, according to previous tendencies.

बाह्यादाभ्यंतरं श्रेष्ठं भवेच्छतगुणाधिकम् असंकरत्वाद्दोषाणां दृष्टानामप्यसम्भवात्

Internal worship is superior to external, being endowed with greater merit, for it is free from the faults that are seen in external acts and is not subject to their mixture.

शौचमाभ्यंतरं विद्यान्न बाह्यं शौचमुच्यते अंतः शौचविमुक्तात्मा शुचिरप्यशुचिर्यतः

Know that purity is internal; external purity is not truly called purity. One whose inner self is free from impurity is pure, even if outwardly impure.

बाह्यमाभ्यंर्तरं चैव भजनं भवपूर्वकम् न भावरहितं देवि विप्रलंभैककारणम्

Both external and internal devotion must be accompanied by feeling; O Devi, without feeling, it is only a cause of disappointment.

कृतकृत्यस्य पूतस्य मम किं क्रियते नरैः बहिर्वाभ्यंतरं वाथ मया भावो हि गृह्यते

What can people do for me, who am accomplished and pure, whether externally or internally? For I accept only the inner feeling.

भावैकात्मा क्रिया देवि मम धर्मस्सनातनः मनसा कर्मणा वाचा ह्यनपेक्ष्य फलं क्वचित्

O Devi, action whose essence is feeling is my eternal law—performed by mind, deed, or speech, without any expectation of result.

फलोद्देशेन देवेशि लघुर्मम समाश्रयः फलार्थी तदभावे मां परित्यक्तुं क्षमो यतः

O Lady of the gods, when done for the sake of reward, my shelter is slight; for one who seeks results can abandon me if the result is absent.

फलार्थिनो ऽपि यस्यैव मयि चित्तं प्रतिष्ठितम् भावानुरूपफलदस्तस्याप्यहमनिन्दिते

Yet, O blameless one, even for those who desire results, if their mind is fixed on me, I grant them results according to their devotion.

फलानपेक्षया येषां मनो मत्प्रवणं भवेत् प्रार्थयेयुः फलं पश्चाद्भक्तास्ते ऽपि मम प्रियाः

Those whose mind is inclined toward me without desire for results—even if they later seek results, such devotees are also dear to me.

प्राक् संस्कारवशादेव ये विचिंत्य फलाफले विवशा मां प्रपद्यंते मम प्रियतमा मताः

Those who, due to previous conditioning, think about results or their absence and helplessly take refuge in me—these are considered my dearest.

मल्लाभान्न परो लाभस्तेषामस्ति यथातथम् ममापि लाभस्तल्लाभान्नापरः परमेश्वरि

There is no greater gain for them than what they have obtained, just as for me also, O Supreme Lady, there is no gain higher than that gain.

मदनुग्रहतस्तेषां भावो मयि समर्पितः फलं परमनिर्वाणं प्रयच्छति बलादिव

By my favor, their devotion is offered to me; that devotion bestows the supreme liberation, just as strength does.

महात्मनामनन्यानां मयि संन्यस्तचेतसाम् अष्टधा लक्षणं प्राहुर्मम धर्माधिकारिणाम्

For the great souls who are wholly devoted to me, with their minds surrendered to me, eightfold are the marks declared of those entitled to my dharma.

मद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यं पूजायां चानुमोदनम् स्वयमभ्यर्चनं चैव मदर्थे चांगचेष्टितम्

Affection for my devotees, approval in worship, personally performing worship, and actions of the limbs for my sake—

मत्कथाश्रवणे भक्तिः स्वरनेत्रांगविक्रियाः ममानुस्मरणं नित्यं यश्च मामुपजीवति

Devotion in hearing my stories, transformations of voice, eyes, and body, constant remembrance of me, and one who lives depending on me—

एवमष्टविधं चिह्नं यस्मिन् म्लेच्छे ऽपि वर्तते स विप्रेन्द्रो मुनिः श्रीमान्स यतिस्स च पंडितः

Where these eightfold signs are found, even in a mleccha, he is foremost among Brahmins, a sage, glorious, an ascetic, and a learned one.

न मे प्रियश्चतुर्वेदी मद्भक्तो श्वपचो ऽपि यः तस्मै देयं ततो ग्राह्यं स च पूज्यो यथा ह्यहम्

One who is devoted to me, even if he is a dog-eater, is dearer to me than a knower of the four Vedas; to him should gifts be given and received, and he is to be worshipped just as I am.

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति

Whoever offers me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion—I do not abandon him, nor does he abandon me.

अथ वक्ष्यामि देवेशि भक्तानामधिकारिणाम् विदुषां द्विजमुख्यानां वर्णधर्मसमासतः

Now, O Lady of the gods, I shall declare in summary the duties of caste for the qualified devotees, the learned, and the foremost twice-born.

त्रिः स्नानं चाग्निकार्यं च लिंगार्चनमनुक्रमम् दानमीश्ररभावश्च दया सर्वत्र सर्वदा

Bathing thrice, tending the sacred fire, regular worship of the liṅga, giving, humility before the Lord, and compassion always and everywhere—

सत्यं संतोषमास्तिक्यमहिंसा सर्वजंतुषु ह्रीश्रद्धाध्ययनं योगस्सदाध्यापनमेव च

Truthfulness, contentment, faith, nonviolence toward all beings, modesty, devotion, study, yoga, and always teaching as well—

व्याख्यानं ब्रह्मचर्यं च श्रवणं च तपः क्षमा शौचं शिखोपवीतं च उष्णीषं चोत्तरीयकम्

Explanation, celibacy, listening, austerity, forgiveness, purity, wearing the tuft and sacred thread, turban, and upper garment—

निषिद्धासेवनं चैव भस्मरुद्राक्षधारणम् पर्वण्यभ्यर्चनं देवि चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः

Avoiding forbidden acts, wearing ash and rudrākṣa beads, worship on festival days, especially on the fourteenth day, O Goddess—

पानं च ब्रह्मकूर्चस्य मासि मासि यथाविधि अभ्यर्चनं विशेषेण तेनैव स्नाप्य मां प्रिये

Drinking the water of the Brahma-kūrcha each month as prescribed, special worship, and with that, bathing me, O beloved—

सर्वक्रियान्न सन्त्यागः श्रद्धान्नस्य च वर्जनम् तथा पर्युषितान्नस्य यावकस्य विशेषतः

Not abandoning all duties, avoiding food given without faith, and especially avoiding stale food and yāvaka grains—

मद्यस्य मद्यगन्धस्य नैवेद्यस्य च वर्जनम् सामान्यं सर्ववर्णानां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

Abstaining from liquor, from food smelling of liquor, and from offerings of such; this is common to all castes, especially for Brahmins.

क्षमा शांतिश्च सन्तोषस्सत्यमस्तेयमेव च ब्रह्मचर्यं मम ज्ञानं वैराग्यं भस्मसेवनम्

Forgiveness, peace, contentment, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, my knowledge, detachment, and use of sacred ash—

सर्वसंगनिवृत्तिश्च दशैतानि विशेषतः लिंगानि योगिनां भूयो दिवा भिक्षाशनं तथा

And complete withdrawal from all attachments—these ten are especially the marks of yogins, along with begging for food by day.