Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

आश्वयुज्यां ततो दद्यात्पायसं च नवोदनम् अग्निकार्यं च तेनैव कुर्याच्छतभिषग्दिने

In Āśvayuja, one should offer milk-rice and newly harvested grain; on the day of Śatabhiṣak, one should perform the fire ritual accordingly.

कार्तिक्यां कृतिकायोगे दद्याद्दीपसहस्रकम् मार्गशीर्षे तथार्द्रायां घृतेन स्नापयेच्छिवम्

In Kārtika, when Kṛttikā is present, one should offer a thousand lamps; in Mārgaśīrṣa, on the day of Ārdrā, one should bathe Śiva with ghee.

अशक्तस्तेषु कालेषु कुर्यादुत्सवमेव वा आस्थानं वा महापूजामधिकं वा समर्चनम्

If one is unable at those times, one may instead hold a festival, or establish a seat, or perform a great worship, or offer special adoration.

आवृत्ते ऽपि च कल्याणे प्रशस्तेष्वपि कर्मसु दौर्मनस्ये दुराचारे दुःस्वप्ने दुष्टदर्शने

Even when auspicious rites are completed, or in the midst of praiseworthy actions, if there is distress, misconduct, evil dreams, or inauspicious visions,

उत्पाते वाशुभेन्यस्मिन्रोगे वा प्रबले ऽथ वा स्नानपूजाजपध्यानहोमदानादिकाः क्रियः

Or if there is calamity, misfortune, or severe illness, then one should perform acts such as bathing, worship, recitation, meditation, fire offerings, and gifts.

निर्मितानुगुणाः कार्याः पुरश्चरणपूर्विकाः शिवानले च विहते पुनस्सन्धानमाचरेत्

These prescribed acts should be performed in accordance with the rules, preceded by proper preparation; if the Śiva fire ritual is interrupted, one should restore it again.

य एवं शर्वधर्मिष्ठो वर्तते नित्यमुद्यतः तस्यैकजन्मना मुक्तिं प्रयच्छति महेश्वरः

Whoever thus lives devoted to Śarva’s dharma, ever diligent, to him the great Lord grants liberation in a single birth.

एतद्यथोत्तरं कुर्यान्नित्यनैमित्तिकेषु यः दिव्यं श्रीकंठनाथस्य स्थानमाद्यं स गच्छति

Whoever performs these acts as prescribed, both regularly and on special occasions, attains the divine, supreme abode of Śrīkaṇṭhanātha.

तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान्कल्पकोटिशतन्नरः कालांतरेच्युतस्तस्मादौमं कौमारमेव च

There, after enjoying great pleasures for hundreds of millions of aeons, when the time comes, he departs from there and attains the Uma or Kaumāra realm.

संप्राप्य वैष्णवं ब्राह्मं रुद्रलोकं विशेषतः तत्रोषित्वा चिरं कालं भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथोदितान्

Having reached the Vaiṣṇava, Brāhma, and especially the Rudra worlds, and having dwelt there for a long time, enjoying the pleasures as described,

पुनश्चोर्ध्वं गतस्तस्मादतीत्य स्थानपञ्चकम् श्रीकण्ठाज्ज्ञानमासाद्य तस्माच्छैवपुरं व्रजेत्

Then, rising further from there, surpassing the five regions, and attaining knowledge from Śrīkaṇṭha, he proceeds to the city of Śiva.

अर्धचर्यारतश्चापि द्विरावृत्त्यैवमेव तु पश्चाज्ज्ञानं समासाद्य शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

Even one who is engaged in half the practice, by repeating it twice in this way, later attains knowledge and reaches union with Śiva.

अर्धार्धचरितो यस्तु देही देहक्षयात्परम् अंडांतं वोर्ध्वमव्यक्तमतीत्य भुवनद्वयम्

But one who has practiced only a quarter, at the end of the body, goes beyond the cosmic egg and the two worlds, reaching the unmanifest above.

संप्राप्य पौरुषं रौद्रस्थानमद्रीन्द्रजापतेः अनेकयुगसाहस्रं भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकधा

There, attaining the Pauruṣa and Raudra realms of the Lord of mountains, he enjoys various pleasures for thousands of ages in many ways.

पुण्यक्षये क्षितिं प्राप्य कुले महति जायते तत्रापि पूर्वसंस्कारवशेन स महाद्युतिः

When his merit is exhausted, he is born on earth in a great family, and there too, by the force of previous impressions, he is endowed with great brilliance.

पशुधर्मान्परित्यज्य शिवधर्मरतो भवेत् तद्धर्मगौरवादेव ध्यात्वा शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

Abandoning the ways of the bound soul, one should delight in the Dharma of Shiva; out of reverence for that Dharma, meditating, one should go to the city of Shiva.

भोगांश्च विविधान्भुक्त्वा विद्येश्वरपदं व्रजेत् तत्र विद्येश्वरैस्सार्धं भुक्त्वा भोगान्बहून्क्रमात्

Having enjoyed various pleasures, one attains the station of the Vidyeshvaras; there, together with the Vidyeshvaras, one enjoys many pleasures in succession.

अण्डस्यांतर्बहिर्वाथ सकृदावर्तते पुनः ततो लब्ध्वा शिवज्ञानं परां भक्तिमवाप्य च

Whether within or outside the cosmic egg, one revolves once again; then, having obtained knowledge of Shiva and supreme devotion,

शिवसाधर्म्यमासाद्य न भूयो विनिवर्तते यश्चातीव शिवे भक्तो विषयासक्तचित्तवत्

Having attained likeness with Shiva, one does not return again; and even one who is extremely devoted to Shiva, though his mind is attached to sense-objects,

शिवदर्मानसो कुर्वन्नकुर्वन्वापि मुच्यते एकावृत्तो द्विरावृत्तस्त्रिरावृत्तो निवर्तकः

Whether performing the Dharma of Shiva in mind or not performing it, he is liberated; one who revolves once, or twice, or thrice, returns.

न पुनश्चक्रवर्ती स्याच्छिवधर्माधिकारवान् तस्माच्च्छिवाश्रितो भूत्वा येन केनापि हेतुना

He would not again become a universal monarch, having authority in the Dharma of Shiva; therefore, having taken refuge in Shiva, by whatever cause,

शिवधर्मे मतिं कुर्याच्छ्रेयसे चेत्कृतोद्यमः नात्र निर्बंधयिष्यामो वयं केचन केनचित्

One should fix the mind on the Dharma of Shiva, if one is intent on the highest good; here, we will not impose any compulsion on anyone for any reason.

निर्बन्धेभ्यो ऽतिवादेभ्यः प्रकृत्यैतन्न रोचते रोचते वा परेभ्यस्तु पुण्यसंस्कारगौरवात्

Because of insistence or excessive argument, by nature this does not appeal; yet it may appeal to others, out of reverence for the merit of sacred rites.

संसारकारणं येषां न प्ररोढुमलं भवेत् प्रकृत्यनुगुणं तस्माद्विमृश्यैतदशेषतः

For those whose cause of worldly existence cannot be restrained, let them consider this thoroughly, according to their own nature.

शिवधर्मे ऽधिकुर्वीत यदीच्छेच्छिवमात्मनः

One should undertake the Dharma of Shiva, if one desires Shiva for oneself.

भगवंस्त्वन्मुखादेव श्रुतं श्रुतिसमं मया स्वाश्रितानां शिवप्रोक्तं नित्यनैमित्तिकं तथा

O Lord, I have heard from your own mouth what is equal to the Veda: the eternal and occasional duties spoken by Shiva for his own devotees.

इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि शिवधर्माधिकारिणाम् काम्यमप्यस्ति चेत्कर्म वक्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम्

Now I wish to hear whether there are also optional acts for those entitled to the Dharma of Shiva; if so, you should speak of them at this time.

अस्त्यैहिकफलं किञ्चिदामुष्मिकफलं तथा ऐहिकामुष्मिकञ्चापि तच्च पञ्चविधं पुनः

There are indeed some acts that yield results in this world, and some that yield results in the next; and again, some that yield both, and these are of five kinds.

किंचित्क्रियामयं कर्म किंचित्कर्म तपो मयम्

Some acts consist of ritual action, some are of the nature of austerity.