Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

वेदपारायणं चैव ज्ञेयं शिवपदप्रदम् अन्यान्बहुतरान्मंत्राञ्जपेदक्षरलक्षतः

The recitation of the Vedas is also known to grant the state of Shiva; one should recite many other mantras, each with a hundred thousand syllables.

एकाक्षरांस्तथा मंत्राञ्जपेदक्षरकोटितः ततः परं जपेच्चैव सहस्रं भक्तिपूर्वकम्

One should recite single-syllable mantras up to a crore of syllables, and then, with devotion, recite a thousand more.

एवं कुर्याद्यथाशक्ति क्रमाच्छिव पदं लभेत् नित्यं रुचिकरं त्वेकं मंत्रमामरणांतिकम्

Thus, one should act according to one's ability and gradually attain the state of Shiva; one mantra, pleasing and recited daily, should be continued until death.

जपेत्सहस्रमोमिति सर्वाभीष्टं शिवाज्ञया पुष्पारामादिकं वापि तथा संमार्जनादिकम्

One should recite 'Om' a thousand times by Shiva’s command to fulfill all desires, or else perform acts such as tending flower gardens or sweeping.

शिवाय शिवकार्याथे कृत्वा शिवपदं लभेत् शिवक्षेत्रे तथा वासं नित्यं कुर्याच्च भक्तितः

For Shiva or for Shiva’s purposes, having performed such acts, one attains the state of Shiva; one should always dwell in a Shiva-kshetra with devotion.

जडानामजडानां च सर्वेषां भुक्तिमुक्तिदम् तस्माद्वासं शिवक्षेत्रे कुर्यदामरणं बुधः

For the dull and the wise alike, it grants both enjoyment and liberation; therefore, the wise should reside in a Shiva-kshetra until death.

लिंगाद्धस्तशतं पुण्यं क्षेत्रे मानुषके विदुः सहस्रारत्निमात्रं तु पुण्यक्षेत्रे तथार्षके

From a linga, a hundredfold merit is known in a human-made kshetra; in a sacred or ancient kshetra, the merit is equal to a thousand gold coins.

दैवलिंगे तथा ज्ञेयं सहस्रारत्निमानतः धनुष्प्रमाणसाहस्रं पुण्यं क्षेत्रे स्वयं भुवि

In a divine linga, the merit is said to be a thousand gold coins; in a self-manifested kshetra, the merit is a thousand times the measure of a bow.

पुण्यक्षेत्रे स्थिता वापी कूपाद्यपुष्कराणि च शिवगंगेति विज्ञेयं शिवस्य वचनं यथा

In a sacred kshetra, tanks, wells, and ponds are to be known as Shiva-Ganga, according to Shiva’s own words.

तत्र स्नात्वा तथा दत्त्वा जपित्वा हि शिवं व्रजेत् शिवक्षेत्रं समाश्रित्य वसेदामरणं तथा

There, by bathing, giving, and reciting, one attains Shiva; having taken refuge in a Shiva-kshetra, one should dwell there until death.

दाहं दशाहं मास्यं वा सपिंडीकरणं तु वा आब्दिकं वा शिवक्षेत्रे क्षेत्रे पिंडमथापि वा

Whether cremation, ten-day rites, monthly, or annual offerings are performed in a Shiva-kshetra, or even the offering of a rice-ball, it is so.

सर्वपाप विनिर्मुक्तः सद्यः शिवपदं लभेत् अथवा सप्तरात्रं वा वसेद्वा पञ्चरात्रकम्

Freed from all sins, one immediately attains the state of Shiva; or, by dwelling for seven nights or five nights.

त्रिरात्रमेकरात्रं वा क्रमाच्छिवपदं लभेत् स्ववर्णानुगुणं लोके स्वाचारात्प्राप्नुते नरः

Or, by staying for three nights or even one night, one gradually attains the state of Shiva; a person attains, according to his own conduct, that which accords with his own varna in the world.

वर्णोद्धारेण भक्त्या च तत्फलातिशयं नरः सर्वं कृतं कामनया सद्यः फलमवाप्नुयात्

By reciting the syllables with devotion, a person may instantly obtain all the desired results, even surpassing the fruits of complete ritual acts.

सर्वं कृतमकामेन साक्षाच्छिवपदप्रदम् प्रातर्मध्याह्नसायाह्नमहस्त्रिष्वेकतः क्रमात्

All acts performed without desire directly grant the state of Shiva; in the morning, midday, and evening, one should perform them in sequence, at least once in any of these three times.

प्रातर्विधिकरं ज्ञेयं मध्याह्नं कामिकं तथा सायाह्नं शांतिकं ज्ञेयं रात्रावपि तथैव हि

The morning rite is to be known as that which fulfills duties, midday as that which fulfills desires, and evening as that which brings peace; the same applies at night as well.

कालो निशीथो वै प्रोक्तोमध्ययामद्वयं निशि शिवपूजा विशेषेण तत्काले ऽभीष्टसिद्धिदा

The time called midnight is said to be the middle of the night; worship of Shiva at that time especially grants the fulfillment of one's wishes.

एवं ज्ञात्वा नरः कुर्वन्यथोक्तफलभाग्भवेत् कलौ युगे विशेषेण फलसिद्धिस्तु कर्मणा

Knowing this, if a person acts accordingly, he attains the results as described; especially in the Kali age, the fruit of action is quickly attained.

उक्तेन केनचिद्वापि अधिकारविभेदतः सद्वृत्तिः पापभीरुश्चेत्ततत्फलमवाप्नुयात्

Whoever, according to their eligibility, performs as prescribed—even if only a little, with good conduct and fear of sin—will obtain that result.

अथ क्षेत्राणि पुण्यानि समासात्कथयस्व नः सर्वाः स्त्रियश्च पुरुषा यान्याश्रित्य पदं लभेत्

Now, tell us in brief about the sacred places; all women and men, by resorting to them, may attain the supreme state.

सूत योगिवरश्रेष्ठ शिवक्षेत्रागमांस्तथा शृणुत श्रद्धया सर्वक्षेत्राणि च तदागमान्

Sūta, best of sages, listen with faith to the accounts of Shiva's sacred places and all other holy sites as well.

शृणुध्वमृषयः प्राज्ञाः शिवक्षेत्रं विमुक्तिदम् तदागमांस्ततो वक्ष्ये लोकरक्षार्थमेव हि

Hear, O wise sages, about Shiva's sacred place, which grants liberation; I will now describe its traditions for the protection of the world.

पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तीर्णा सशैलवनकानना शिवाज्ञया हि पृथिवी लोकं धृत्वा च तिष्ठति

Spanning fifty crores in extent, with mountains, forests, and groves, the earth stands supporting the world by Shiva's command.

तत्र तत्र शिवक्षेत्रं तत्र तत्र निवासिनाम् मोक्षार्थं कृपया देवः क्षेत्रं कल्पितवान्प्रभुः

Here and there are Shiva's sacred sites; for the liberation of those who dwell there, the Lord, out of compassion, has established these places.

परिग्रहादृषीणां च देवानां परिग्रहात् स्वयंभूतान्यथान्यानि लोकरक्षार्थमेव हि

Some are established by the acceptance of sages, others by the acceptance of gods, and some are self-manifested—all for the protection of the world.

तीर्थे क्षेत्रे सदाकार्यं स्नानदानजपादिकम् अन्यथा रोगदारिद्र्यमूकत्वाद्याप्नुयान्नरः

In a holy place or sacred field, one should always perform bathing, giving, recitation, and the like; otherwise, a person may incur disease, poverty, or even muteness.

अथास्मिन्भारते वर्षे प्राप्नोति मरणं नरः स्वयंभूस्थानवासेन पुनर्मानुष्यमाप्नुयात्

If a person dies in this land of Bhārata, by dwelling at a self-manifested site, he attains human birth again.

क्षेत्रे पापस्य करणं दृढं भवति भूसुराः पुण्यक्षेत्रे निवासे हि पापमण्वपि नाचरेत्

O twice-born, committing sin in a sacred field becomes firmly established; but by dwelling in a holy place, one should not commit even the smallest sin.

येन केनाप्युपायेन पुण्यक्षेत्रे वसेन्नरः सिंधोः शतनदीतीरे संति क्षेत्राण्यनेकशः

By any means, a person should reside in a holy field; on the banks of the Sindhu and the hundred-rivered, there are many sacred places.