Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

आसनानि च भद्राणि गजदंतमयानि च सुवर्णरत्नयुक्तानि चित्राण्यास्तरणानि च

Auspicious seats made of ivory, adorned with gold and jewels, and beautiful, variegated coverings are to be provided.

मृदूपधानयुक्तानि सूक्ष्मतूलमयानि च उच्चावचानि रम्याणि शयनानि सुखानि च

Beds equipped with soft cushions, made of fine cotton, of various heights, delightful and comfortable, are to be arranged.

नद्यस्समुद्रगामिन्या नटाद्वाम्भः समाहृतम् शीतञ्च वस्त्रपूतं तद्विशिष्टं स्नानपानयोः

Water drawn from rivers flowing to the ocean, or from lakes, cooled and filtered through cloth, is best for bathing and drinking.

छत्रं शशिनिभं चारु मुक्तादामविराजितम् नवरत्नचितं दिव्यं हेमदण्डमनोहरम्

A charming umbrella, radiant like the moon, adorned with strings of pearls, set with nine kinds of gems, divine, with a golden handle, and captivating.

चामरे च सिते सूक्ष्मे चामीकरपरिष्कृते राजहंसद्वयाकारे रत्नदंडोपशोभिते

White, fine fly-whisks, decorated with gold, shaped like a pair of royal swans, and beautified with jeweled handles.

दर्पणं चापि सुस्निग्धं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् समंताद्रत्नसञ्छन्नं स्रग्वैरैश्चापि भूषितम्

A mirror, very clear, anointed with divine fragrance, entirely covered with jewels, and adorned with garlands.

गम्भीरनिनदः शंखो हंसकुंदेन्दुसन्निभः आस्वपृष्ठादिदेशेषु रत्नचामीकराचितः

A conch with a deep sound, resembling a swan, jasmine, or the moon, set with jewels and gold on its back and other parts.

काहलानि च रम्याणि नानानादकराणि च सुवर्णनिर्मितान्येव मौक्तिकालंकृतानि च

Beautiful kettledrums, producing various sounds, made of gold and decorated with pearls.

भेरीमृदंगमुरजतिमिच्छपटहादयः समुद्रकल्पसन्नादाः कल्पनीयाः प्रयत्नतः

Drums, mridangas, small cymbals, and paṭahas, with a sound like the ocean, should be carefully arranged.

भांडान्यपि च रम्याणि पत्राण्यपि च कृत्स्नशः

Beautiful vessels and plates, all of them, should also be provided.

आलयं च महेशस्य शिवस्य परमात्मनः राजावसथवत्कल्प्यं शिल्पशास्त्रोक्तलक्षणम्

The abode of Maheśa, Śiva, the Supreme Self, should be constructed like a royal palace, with features described in the science of architecture.

उच्चप्राकारसंभिन्नं भूधराकारगोपुरम् अनेकरत्नसंच्छन्नं हेमद्वारकपाटकम्

It should have high enclosing walls, a gateway resembling a mountain, covered with many jewels, and doors with golden panels.

तप्तजांबूनदमयं रत्नस्तम्भशतावृतम् मुक्तादामवितानाढ्यं विद्रुमद्वारतोरणम्

Made of refined Jambū gold, surrounded by hundreds of jeweled pillars, adorned with canopies of pearl garlands, and with coral gateways and arches.

चामीकरमयैर्दिव्यैर्मुकुटैः कुम्भलक्षणैः

With divine crowns made of gold, adorned with the marks of pitchers,

राजन्यार्हनिवासैश्च राजवीथ्यादिशोभितैः प्रोच्छ्रितप्रांशुशिखरैः प्रासादैश्च समंततः

With royal mansions worthy of kings, beautified by royal avenues and the like, and with lofty, towering palaces rising everywhere,

आस्थानस्थानवर्यैश्च स्थितैर्दिक्षु विदिक्षु च अत्यन्तालंकृतप्रांतमंतरावरणैरिव

With excellent seats and stations established in all directions and intermediate quarters, as if with inner enclosures most splendidly decorated,

उत्तमस्त्रीसहस्रैश्च नृत्यगेयविशारदैः वेणुवीणाविदग्धैश्च पुरुषैर्बहुभिर्युतम्

Accompanied by thousands of the finest women skilled in dance and song, and by many men adept with flute and lute,

रक्षितं रक्षिभिर्वीरैर्गजवाजिरथान्वितैः अनेकपुष्पवाटीभिरनेकैश्च सरोवरैः

Guarded by heroic protectors, accompanied by elephants, horses, and chariots, with many flower gardens and numerous lakes,

दीर्घिकाभिरनेकाभिर्दिग्विदिक्षु विराजितम् वेदवेदांततत्त्वज्ञैश्शिवशास्त्रपरायणैः

Radiant in all directions with many long reservoirs, and with those who know the Vedas, Vedānta, and the essence of the scriptures, devoted to the teachings of Śiva,

शिवाश्रमरतैर्भक्तैः शिवशास्त्रोक्तलक्षणैः शांतैः स्मितमुखैः स्फीतैः सदाचारपरायणैः

With devotees delighting in Śiva's hermitages, marked by the characteristics taught in Śiva's scriptures, peaceful, smiling, prosperous, and devoted to good conduct,

शैवैर्माहेश्वरैश्चैव श्रीमद्भिस्सेवितद्विजैः एवमंतर्बहिर्वाथयथाशक्तिविनिर्मितैः

With Śaivas and Maheśvaras, and revered twice-born ones in attendance, thus, both inside and outside, constructed according to one's ability,

स्थाने शिलामये दांते दारवे चेष्टकामये केवलं मृन्मये वापि पुण्यारण्ये ऽथ वा गिरौ

In a place made of stone, or of wood, or of bricks, or even of mere clay, in a sacred forest or on a mountain,

नद्यां देवालये ऽन्यत्र देशे वाथ गृहे शुभे आढ्यो वाथ दरिद्रो वा स्वकां शक्तिमवंचयन् द्रव्यैर्न्यायार्जितैरेव भक्त्या देवं समर्चयेत्

In a river, a temple, elsewhere, in a region, or in an auspicious house—whether wealthy or poor, not neglecting one's own capacity, one should worship the god with devotion, using only wealth acquired justly,

अथान्यायार्जितैश्चापि भक्त्या चेच्छिवमर्चयेत् न तस्य प्रत्यवायो ऽस्ति भाववश्यो यतः प्रभुः

But even if one worships Śiva with devotion using wealth acquired unjustly, there is no fault for him, for the Lord is bound by the devotee's intention,

न्यायार्जितैरपि द्रव्यैरभक्त्या पूजयेद्यदि न तत्फलमवाप्नोति भक्तिरेवात्र कारणम्

But if one worships without devotion, even with wealth acquired justly, he does not obtain the result; here, devotion alone is the cause,

भक्त्या वित्तानुसारेण शिवमुद्दिश्य यत्कृतम् अल्पे महति वा तुल्यं फलमाढ्यदरिद्रयोः

Whatever is done with devotion, according to one's means, for the sake of Śiva—whether little or great—the result is the same for the rich and the poor,

भक्त्या प्रचोदितः कुर्यादल्पवित्तोपि मानवः महाविभवसारोपि न कुर्याद्भक्तिवर्जितः

Even a man of little wealth, impelled by devotion, should act; but one endowed with great riches, if devoid of devotion, should not act,

सर्वस्वमपि यो दद्याच्छिवे भक्तिविवर्जितः न तेन फलभाक्स स्याद्भक्तिरेवात्र कारणम्

Even if one gives everything to Śiva without devotion, he does not partake of the fruit; here, devotion alone is the cause,

न तत्तपोभिरत्युग्रैर्न च सर्वैर्महामखैः गच्छेच्छिवपुरं दिव्यं मुक्त्वा भक्तिं शिवात्मकम्

Not by severe austerities nor by all great sacrifices does one attain the divine city of Śiva, except through devotion that is of the nature of Śiva,