Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अध्यापनं याजनं च क्षत्रियस्याप्रतिग्रहः वैश्यस्य च विशेषेण मया नात्र विधीयते

Teaching and officiating at sacrifices are permitted for a Kshatriya, but accepting gifts is not; especially for a Vaishya, I do not prescribe these here.

रक्षणं सर्ववर्णानां युद्धे शत्रुवधस्तथा दुष्टपक्षिमृगाणां च दुष्टानां शातनं नृणाम्

Protection of all classes, slaying enemies in battle, and the destruction of wicked birds, beasts, and evil men are duties.

अविश्वासश्च सर्वत्र विश्वासो मम योगिषु स्त्रीसंसर्गश्च कालेषु चमूरक्षणमेव च

Distrust everywhere, trust only in yogis, avoidance of women at improper times, and guarding the army—these are also duties.

सदा संचारितैश्चारैर्लोकवृत्तांतवेदनम् सदास्त्रधारणं चैव भस्मकंचुकधारणम्

Constant gathering of information through spies, always knowing the affairs of the people, bearing weapons at all times, and wearing an ash-covered garment are prescribed.

राज्ञां ममाश्रमस्थानामेष धर्मस्य संग्रहः गोरक्षणं च वाणिज्यं कृषिर्वैश्यस्य कथ्यते

O kings, this is the summary of dharma for those in my āśramas; for a Vaishya, protection of cows, trade, and agriculture are declared.

शुश्रूषेतरवर्णानां धर्मः शूद्रस्य कथ्यते उद्यानकरणं चैव मम क्षेत्रसमाश्रयः

For a Shudra, service to the other classes is prescribed as dharma, as well as making gardens and residing in my fields.

धर्मपत्न्यास्तु गमनं गृहस्थस्य विधीयते ब्रह्मचर्यं वनस्थानां यतीनां ब्रह्मचारिणाम्

For a householder, union with the lawful wife is prescribed; for forest-dwellers, ascetics, and celibates, celibacy is enjoined.

स्त्रीणां तु भर्तृशुश्रूषा धर्मो नान्यस्सनातनः ममार्चनं च कल्याणि नियोगो भर्तुरस्ति चेत्

For women, service to the husband is the eternal dharma, none other; and, O auspicious one, worship of me is enjoined if the husband commands.

या नारी भर्तृशुश्रूषां विहाय व्रततत्परा सा नारी नरकं याति नात्र कार्या विचारणा

A woman who neglects service to her husband and is devoted to vows instead—such a woman goes to hell; there should be no doubt about this.

अथ भर्तृविहीनाया वक्ष्ये धर्मं सनातनम् व्रतं दानं तपः शौचं भूशय्यानक्तभोजनम्

Now I shall declare the eternal dharma for a woman bereft of her husband: vow, charity, austerity, purity, sleeping on the ground, and abstaining from food at night.

ब्रह्मचर्यं सदा स्नानं भस्मना सलिलेन वा शांतिर्मौनं क्षमा नित्यं संविभागो यथाविधि

Celibacy, daily bathing with ashes or water, tranquility, silence, constant forgiveness, and sharing according to rule are prescribed.

अष्टाभ्यां च चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यां विशेषतः एकादश्यां च विधिवदुपवासोममार्चनम्

On the eighth, fourteenth, and especially the full-moon days, and properly on the eleventh, fasting and worship of Soma are enjoined.

इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तो मयाश्रमनिषेविणाम् ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां देवि यतीनां ब्रह्मचारिणाम्

Thus, in brief, I have declared the dharma for those devoted to the āśramas—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, ascetics, and celibates.

तथैव वानप्रस्थानां गृहस्थानां च सुन्दरि शूद्राणामथ नारीणां धर्म एष सनातनः

In the same way, O beautiful one, for forest-dwellers, householders, Shudras, and women, this is the eternal dharma.

ध्येयस्त्वयाहं देवेशि सदा जाप्यः षडक्षरः वेदोक्तमखिलं धर्ममिति धर्मार्थसंग्रहः

O goddess of the gods, you should always meditate on me, recite the six-syllabled mantra, and practice all dharma as taught in the Vedas—this is the summary of dharma and artha.

अथ ये मानवा लोके स्वेच्छया धृतविग्रहाः भावातिशयसंपन्नाः पूर्वसंस्कारसंयुताः

Now, those people in the world who, by their own will, take up discipline, endowed with intense feeling and previous impressions—

विरक्ता वानुरक्ता वा स्त्र्यादीनां विषयेष्वपि

Whether detached or attached, even regarding women and other objects—

तेषां ममात्मविज्ञानं विशुद्धानां विवेकिनाम् मत्प्रसादाद्विशुद्धानां दुःखमाश्रमरक्षणात्

For those who are pure and discerning, knowledge of my true Self arises by my grace; though purified, they suffer due to the burdens of worldly duties.

नास्ति कृत्यमकृत्यं च समाधिर्वा परायणम् न विधिर्न निषेधश्च तेषां मम यथा तथा

For them, there is neither duty nor non-duty, nor absorption nor supreme goal; there is no injunction or prohibition for them, just as it is for me.

तथेह परिपूर्णस्य साध्यं मम न विद्यते तथैव कृतकृत्यानां तेषामपि न संशयः

In the same way, for one who is complete here, there is nothing left to accomplish for me; likewise, for those who have fulfilled their purpose, there is no doubt.

मद्भक्तानां हितार्थाय मानुषं भावमाश्रिताः रुद्रलोकात्परिभ्रष्टास्ते रुद्रा नात्र संशयः

For the welfare of my devotees, those Rudras who have fallen from the world of Rudra take on human form—there is no doubt about this.

ममानुशासनं यद्वद्ब्रह्मादीनां प्रवर्तकम् तथा नराणामन्येषां तन्नियोगः प्रवर्तकः

Just as my command initiates action for Brahma and the others, so too does my directive set in motion the actions of humans and others.

ममाज्ञाधारभावेन सद्भावातिशयेन च तदालोकनमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

By holding my command as supreme and with exceptional sincerity, even a mere glimpse of that destroys all sins.

प्रत्ययाश्च प्रवर्तंते प्रशस्तफलसूचकाः मयि भाववतां पुंसां प्रागदृष्टार्थगोचराः

Signs indicating auspicious results arise in those devoted to me, even before the desired goal is seen.

कंपस्वेदो ऽश्रुपातश्च कण्ठे च स्वरविक्रिया आनंदाद्युपलब्धिश्च भवेदाकस्मिकी मुहुः

Trembling, sweating, the flow of tears, changes in the voice at the throat, and sudden repeated experiences of joy—these occur unexpectedly.

स तैर्व्यस्तैस्समस्तैर्वा लिंगैरव्यभिचारिभिः मंदमध्योत्तमैर्भावैर्विज्ञेयास्ते नरोत्तमाः

By these unmistakable signs, whether occurring singly or together, and by their mild, moderate, or intense forms, the best among men are to be recognized.

यथायोग्निसमावेशान्नायो भवति केवलम् स तथैव मम सान्निध्यान्न ते केवलमानुषाः

Just as iron, by contact with fire, is no longer merely iron, so too, by my presence, they are not merely human.

हस्तपादादिसाधर्म्याद्रुद्रान्मर्त्यवपुर्धरान् प्राकृतानिव मन्वानो नावजानीत पंडितः

Because they resemble mortals in hands, feet, and so on, one should not consider them ordinary; the wise do not look down on them, knowing they are Rudras in human form.

अवज्ञानं कृतं तेषु नरैर्व्यामूढचेतनैः आयुः श्रियं कुलं शीलं हित्वा निरयमावहेत्

If people with deluded minds show contempt for them, such scorn leads to loss of life, wealth, lineage, and virtue, and brings about hell.