Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

तस्मात्क्रमेण संत्यज्य बाह्यमाभ्यंतरं तथा ज्ञानेन ज्ञेयमालोक्याज्ञानं चापि परित्यजेत्

Therefore, gradually abandoning both external and internal, one should perceive what is to be known through knowledge, and also renounce ignorance.

नैकाग्रं चेच्छिवे चित्तं किं कृतेनापि कर्मणा एकाग्रमेव चेच्चित्तं किं कृतेनापि कर्मणा

If the mind is not concentrated on Śiva, what use is action, even if performed? If the mind is concentrated, what use is action, even if performed?

तस्मात्कर्माण्यकृत्वा वा कृत्वा वांतर्बहिःक्रमात् येन केनाप्युपायेन शिवे चित्तं निवेशयेत्

Therefore, whether actions are performed or not, externally or internally, by whatever means, one should establish the mind in Śiva.

शिवे निविष्टचित्तानां प्रतिष्ठितधियां सताम् परत्रेह च सर्वत्र निर्वृतिः परमा भवेत्

For those whose minds are established in Śiva, whose intellect is steadfast, supreme bliss arises everywhere, both here and beyond.

इहोन्नमः शिवायेति मंत्रेणानेन सिद्धयः स तस्मादधिगंतव्यः परावरविभूतये

Here, with the mantra 'Om namaḥ Śivāya', attainments are achieved; therefore, it is to be pursued for mastery over all realms, higher and lower.

महर्षिवर सर्वज्ञ सर्वज्ञानमहोदधे पञ्चाक्षरस्य माहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः

O great sage, all-knowing one, ocean of omniscience, I wish to hear, in truth, the greatness of the five-syllable mantra.

पञ्चाक्षरस्य माहात्म्यं वर्षकोटिशतैरपि अशक्यं विस्तराद्वक्तुं तस्मात्संक्षेपतः शृणु

The greatness of the five-syllable mantra cannot be fully described even in hundreds of millions of years; therefore, listen to it in brief.

वेदे शिवागमे चायमुभयत्र षडक्षरेः सर्वेषां शिवभक्तानामशेषार्थसाधकः

In the Veda and in the Śiva scriptures, this six-syllable mantra accomplishes all purposes for devotees of Śiva.

तदल्पाक्षरमर्थाढ्यं वेदसारं विमुक्तिदम् आज्ञासिद्धमसंदिग्धं वाक्यमेतच्छिवात्मकम्

Though brief in syllables, it is rich in meaning, the essence of the Veda, bestowing liberation, established by command, free from doubt, and this statement is of the nature of Śiva.

नानासिद्धियुतं दिव्यं लोकचित्तानुरंजकम् सुनिश्चितार्थं गंभीरं वाक्यं तत्पारमेश्वरम्

Endowed with various attainments, divine, pleasing to the minds of people, its meaning is certain and profound; this statement is supreme, belonging to the Lord.

मन्त्रं सुखमुकोच्चार्यमशेषार्थप्रसिद्धये प्राहोन्नमः शिवायेति सर्वज्ञस्सर्वदेहिनाम्

The mantra is easily pronounced for the accomplishment of all purposes; the all-knowing one declares 'Om namaḥ Śivāya' for all embodied beings.

तद्बीजं सर्वविद्यानां मंत्रमाद्यं षडक्षरम् अतिसूक्ष्मं महार्थं च ज्ञेयं तद्वटबीजवत्

Its seed is the source of all knowledge, the primary mantra, the six-syllable one, extremely subtle and of great import; it should be known like the seed of the banyan tree.

देवो गुणत्रयातीतः सर्वज्ञः सर्वकृत्प्रभुः ओमित्येकाक्षरे मन्त्रे स्थितः सर्वगतः शिवः

The deity transcends the three qualities, is all-knowing, the Lord of all actions; Śiva abides in the mantra as the single syllable 'Om', pervading all.

इशानाद्यानि सूक्ष्माणि ब्रह्माण्येकाक्षराणि तु मंत्रे नमश्शिवायेति संस्थितानि यथाक्रमम् मंत्रे षडक्षरे सूक्ष्मे पञ्चब्रह्मतनुः शिवः

The subtle syllables beginning with 'Ishana', which are the single-syllabled Brahman, are established in the mantra 'Namah Shivaya' in their proper order; in the subtle six-syllabled mantra, Shiva abides as the fivefold Brahman-form.

वाच्यवाचकभावेन स्थितः साक्षात्स्वभावतः वाच्यश्शिवोप्रमेयत्वान्मंत्रस्तद्वाचकस्स्मृतः

He remains as both the signified and the signifier, directly and by his own nature; Shiva is called the signified because he is incomparable, and the mantra is remembered as his signifier.

वाच्यवाचकभावो ऽयमनादिसंस्थितस्तयोः यथा ऽनादिप्रवृत्तोयं घोरसंसारसागरः

This relationship of signified and signifier has existed from the beginningless past between the two, just as this dreadful ocean of worldly existence has flowed from beginningless time.

शिवो ऽपि हि तथानादिसंसारान्मोचकः स्थितः व्याधीनां भेषजं यद्वत्प्रतिपक्षः स्वभावतः

In the same way, Shiva is established as the liberator from beginningless worldly existence, just as a remedy is, by its very nature, the counter to diseases.

तद्वत्संसारदोषाणां प्रतिपक्षः शिवस्स्मृतः असत्यस्मिन् जगन्नाथे तमोभूतमिदं भवेत्

In the same way, Shiva is remembered as the counter to the faults of worldly existence; without the Lord of the world, this would become enveloped in darkness.

अचेतनत्वात्प्रकृतेरज्ञत्वात्पुरषस्य च प्रधानपरमाण्वादि यावत्किंचिदचेतनम्

Because of the insentience of Prakriti and the ignorance of Purusha, everything from the chief principle down to the ultimate atom is insentient.

न तत्कर्तृ स्वयं दृष्टं बुद्धिमत्कारणं विना धर्माधर्मोपदेशश्च बंधमोक्षौ विचारणात्

None of these are seen to act on their own, without an intelligent cause; the teaching of righteousness and unrighteousness, as well as bondage and liberation, arises from discernment.

न सर्वज्ञं विना पुंसामादिसर्गः प्रसिद्ध्यति वैद्यं विना निरानंदाः क्लिश्यंते रोगिणो यथा

Without the all-knowing one, the original creation of beings does not come about, just as without a physician, the afflicted suffer without relief.

तस्मादनादिः सर्वज्ञः परिपूर्णस्सदाशिवः अस्ति नाथः परित्राता पुंसां संसारसागरात्

Therefore, Sadashiva, who is beginningless, all-knowing, and complete, exists as the Lord, the savior of beings from the ocean of worldly existence.

आदिमध्यांतनिर्मुक्तस्स्वभावविमलः प्रभुः सर्वज्ञः परिपूर्णश्च शिवो ज्ञेयश्शिवागमे

He is free from beginning, middle, and end, pure by his own nature, the Lord, all-knowing and complete; Shiva is to be known in the Shiva scriptures.

तस्याभिधानमन्त्रो ऽयमभिधेयश्च स स्मृतः अभिधानाभिधेयत्वान्मंत्रस्सिद्धः परश्शिवः

His name is this mantra, and he is remembered as the one denoted by it; because of the relationship of name and named, the mantra is established as the supreme Shiva.

एतावत्तु शिवज्ञानमेतावत्परमं पदम् यदोंनमश्शिवायेति शिववाक्यं षडक्षरम्

This alone is the knowledge of Shiva, this alone is the supreme state: the six-syllabled Shiva statement, 'Om Namah Shivaya.'

विधिवाक्यमिदं शैवं नार्थवादं शिवात्मकम् यस्सर्वज्ञस्सुसंपूर्णः स्वभावविमलः शिवः

This Shaiva statement is an injunction, not mere praise, and is of the nature of Shiva; for Shiva, who is all-knowing, perfectly complete, and pure by nature.

लोकानुग्रहकर्ता च स मृषार्थं कथं वदेत् यद्यथावस्थितं वस्तु गुणदोषैः स्वभावतः

He, being the benefactor of the worlds, how could he speak falsely? Whatever exists, with its qualities and faults, exists by its own nature.

यावत्फलं च तत्पूर्णं सर्वज्ञस्तु यथा वदेत् रागाज्ञानादिभिर्दोषैर्ग्रस्तत्वादनृतं वदेत्

And whatever result is complete, the all-knowing one speaks accordingly; only one afflicted by faults like passion and ignorance would speak untruth.

ते चेश्वरे न विद्येते ब्रूयात्स कथमन्यथा अज्ञाताशेषदोषेण सर्वज्ञेय शिवेन यत् प्रणीतममलं वाक्यं तत्प्रमाणं न संशयः

But such faults do not exist in the Lord; how could he speak otherwise? What is composed by Shiva, the all-knowing, free from all unknown faults, that pure statement is authoritative, without doubt.