Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

जपध्यानमयं किंचित्किंचित्सर्वमयं तथा क्रियामयं तथा भिन्नं होमदानार्चनक्रमात्

Some consist of recitation and meditation, and some of all these together; ritual action is also distinct, according to the sequence of offering, giving, and worship.

सर्वशक्तिमतामेव नान्येषां सफलं भवेत् शक्तिश्चाज्ञा मदेशस्य शिवस्य परमात्मनः

Only for those possessing all powers do these acts bear fruit, not for others; and the power is the command of me, Shiva, the Supreme Self.

तस्मात्काम्यानि कर्माणि कुर्यादाज्ञाधरोद्विजः अथ वक्ष्यामि काम्यं हि चेहामुत्र फलप्रदम्

Therefore, a twice-born should perform optional acts according to command; now I will speak of those optional acts that yield results here and hereafter.

शैवैर्माहेश्वरैश्चैव कार्यमंतर्बहिः क्रमात् शिवो महेश्वरश्चेति नात्यंतमिह भिद्यते

By Shaivas and Maheshvaras, acts should be performed both inwardly and outwardly, in due order; Shiva and Maheshvara—here, there is no absolute distinction.

यथा तथा न भिद्यंते शैवा माहेश्वरा अपि शिवाश्रिता हि ते शैवा ज्ञानयज्ञरता नराः

In whatever way, the Shaivas and the Maheshvaras are not divided; for those devoted to Shiva are called Shaivas, men who delight in the sacrifice of knowledge.

माहेश्वरास्समाख्याता कर्मयज्ञरता भुवि तस्मादाभ्यन्तरे कुर्युः शैवा माहेश्वरा वहिः

Those who are devoted to ritual sacrifice in this world are known as Maheshvaras; therefore, let them act inwardly as Shaivas, and outwardly as Maheshvaras.

न तु प्रयोगो भिद्येत वक्ष्यमाणस्य कर्मणः परीक्ष्य भूमिं विधिवद्गंधवर्णरसादिभिः

But the procedure for the ritual to be described should not be altered; let the ground be examined according to rule, by its fragrance, color, taste, and so on.

मनोभिलषिते तत्र वितानविततांबरे सुप्रलिप्ते महीपृष्ठे दर्पणोदरसंनिभे

There, where the mind desires, on ground well-smeared, spread with cloth above and below, smooth as the surface of a mirror—

प्राचीमुत्पादयेत्पूर्वं शास्त्रदृष्टेन वर्त्मना एकहस्तं द्विहस्तं वा मण्डलं परिकल्पयेत्

First, let one mark out the east, by the path prescribed in the scriptures; then, let one prepare a circle, one or two cubits in size.

आलिखेद्विमलं पद्ममष्टपत्रं सकर्णिकम् रत्नहेमादिभिश्चूर्णैर्यथासंभवसंभृतैः

Let one draw a pure eight-petaled lotus with a central pericarp, using powders of gems, gold, and the like, as available.