Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

गोघ्नश्चैव कृतघ्नश्च वीरहा भ्रूणहापि वा शरणागतघाती च मित्रविश्रंभघातकः

Even a killer of cows, the ungrateful, a slayer of heroes, a destroyer of embryos, one who kills a refugee, or betrays a friend—

दुष्टपापसमाचारो मातृहा पितृहापि वा स्तवेनानेन जप्तेन तत्तत्पापात्प्रमुच्यते

One who acts with wicked and sinful conduct, or kills mother or father—even such a person is freed from those respective sins by reciting this hymn.

दुःस्वप्नादिमहानर्थसूचकेषु भयेषु च यदि संकीर्तयेदेतन्न ततो नार्थभाग्भवेत्

If one recites this at times of evil dreams or great misfortune, or in fear, then no harm will befall him.

आयुरारोग्यमैश्वर्यं यच्चान्यदपि वाञ्छितम् स्तोत्रस्यास्य जपे तिष्ठंस्तत्सर्वं लभते नरः

Long life, health, wealth, and whatever else is desired—all of this is obtained by the man who recites this hymn.

असंपूज्य शिवस्तोत्रं जपात्फलमुदाहृतम् संपूज्य च जपे तस्य फलं वक्तुं न शक्यते

The fruit of reciting Shiva's hymn without worship has been stated; but having worshipped, the fruit of its recitation cannot be described.

आस्तामियं फलावाप्तिरस्मिन्संकीर्तिते सति सार्धमंबिकया देवः श्रुत्यैवं दिवि तिष्ठति

Let this attainment of fruit remain; when this is recited, the Lord with Ambika abides in heaven, as declared in the scriptures.

तस्मान्नभसि संपूज्य देवं देवं सहोमया कृतांजलिपुटस्तिष्ठंस्तोत्रमेतदुदीरयेत्

Therefore, having worshipped the Lord in the sky, with Ambika, with hands joined in reverence, one should recite this hymn while standing.

एतत्ते कथितं कृष्ण कर्मेहामुत्र सिद्धिदम् क्रियातपोजपध्यानसमुच्चयमयं परम्

O Krishna, this has been explained to you: the supreme path, composed of the union of ritual, austerity, recitation, and meditation, which grants success in this world and the next.

अथ वक्ष्यामि शैवानामिहैव फलदं नृणाम् पूजाहोमजपध्यानतपोदानमयं महत्

Now I shall describe the great practice of the Shaivas, which bestows results here itself for people, consisting of worship, oblation, recitation, meditation, austerity, and charity.

तत्र संसाधयेत्पूर्वं मन्त्रं मन्त्रार्थवित्तमः दृष्टसिद्धिकरं कर्म नान्यथा फलदं यतः

There, one who knows the meaning of the mantra should first perfect the mantra; for only an act performed with a proven mantra brings results, not otherwise.

सिद्धमन्त्रो ऽप्यदृष्टेन प्रबलेन तु केनचित् प्रतिबन्धफलं कर्म न कुर्यात्सहसा बुधः

Even if the mantra is perfected, if there is some unseen strong obstacle, the wise should not hastily perform the act, as it would yield obstructed results.

तस्य तु प्रतिबन्धस्य कर्तुं शक्येह निष्कृतिः परीक्ष्य शकुनाद्यैस्तदादौ निष्कृतिमाचरेत्

But if there is such an obstacle, it can be remedied here; after examining omens and the like, one should first perform the expiation.

यो ऽन्यथा कुरुते मोहात्कर्मैहिकफलं नरः न तेन फलभाक्स स्यात्प्राप्नुयाच्चोपहास्यताम्

If, out of delusion, a person performs the act otherwise, seeking worldly results, he does not partake of the fruit, and becomes an object of ridicule.

अबिस्रब्धो न कुर्वीत कर्म दृष्टफलं क्वचित् स खल्वश्रद्धधानः स्यान्नाश्रद्धः फलमृच्छति

One should never perform an act without faith in its visible result; such a person is truly faithless, and the faithless do not obtain the fruit.

नापराधोस्ति देवस्य कर्मण्यपि तु निष्फले यथोक्तकारिणां पुंसामिहैव फलदर्शनात्

There is no fault on the part of the deity, even if the act is fruitless, for those who act as prescribed see the result here itself.

साधकः सिद्धमंत्रश्च निरस्तप्रतिबंधकः विश्वस्तः श्रद्धधानश्च कुर्वन्नाप्नोति तत्फलम्

A practitioner who has perfected the mantra, removed obstacles, is confident and full of faith, does not fail to obtain that result.

अथवा तत्फलावाप्त्यै ब्रह्मचर्यरतो भवेत् रात्रौ हविष्यमश्नीयात्पायसं वा फलानि वा

Or, for the attainment of that result, one should be devoted to celibacy, and at night eat sacrificial food, or rice cooked in milk, or fruits.

हिंसादि यन्निषिद्धं स्यान्न कुर्यान्मनसापि तत् सदा भस्मानुलिप्तां गस्सुवेषश्च शुचिर्भवेत्

One should never commit, even in mind, what is forbidden, such as violence; always be anointed with ash, wear clean garments, and remain pure.

इत्थमाचारवान्भूत्वा स्वानुकूले शुभे ऽहनि पूर्वोक्तलक्षणे देशे पुष्पदामाद्यलंकृते

Thus conducting oneself, on an auspicious day favorable to oneself, in a place with the previously described characteristics, adorned with garlands and the like—

विलिखेत्कमले भद्रे दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा

One should draw, on a beautiful lotus, a blazing form shining with its own radiance.

तप्तजांबूनदमयमष्टपत्रं सकेसरम् मध्ये कर्णिकया युक्तं सर्वरत्नैरलंकृतम्

An eight-petaled lotus of molten gold, with filaments, with a central pericarp, adorned with all kinds of jewels.

स्वाकारसदृशेनैव नालेन च समन्वितम् तादृशे स्वर्णनिर्माणे कंदे सम्यग्विधानतः

With a stalk matching its own form, properly fashioned of gold—on such a base, well constructed—

तत्राणिमादिकं सर्वं संकल्प्य मनसा पुनः रत्नजं वाथ सौवर्णं स्फटिकं वा सलक्षणम् लिङ्गं सवेदिकं चैव स्थापयित्वा विधानतः

There, one should mentally conceive all the powers beginning with aṇimā; then, placing a linga with a pedestal, made of jewels, gold, or crystal, and marked with proper features, according to rule—

तत्रावाह्य यजेद्देवं सांबं सगणमव्ययम् तत्र माहेश्वरी कल्प्या मूर्तिर्मूर्तिमतः प्रभोः

There, having invoked the imperishable Lord with his attendants and Ambā, one should establish the image of the great Lord, with form.

चतुर्भुजा चतुर्वक्त्रा सर्वाभरणभूषिता शार्दूलचर्मवसना किंचिद्विहसितानना

She is four-armed, four-faced, adorned with all ornaments, clothed in tiger skin, with a slightly smiling face.

वरदाभयहस्ता च मृगटंकधरा तथा अथ वाष्टभुजा चिंत्या चिंतकस्य यथारुचि

She may be envisioned with hands granting boons and dispelling fear, bearing the deer-mark, or as eight-armed, according to the devotee’s preference.

तदा त्रिशूलपरशुखड्गवज्राणि दक्षिणे वामे पाशांकुशौ तद्वत्खेटं नागं च बिभ्रती

Then, in her right hands she holds trident, axe, sword, and thunderbolt; in her left, noose and goad likewise, as well as shield and serpent.

बालार्कसदृशप्रख्या प्रतिवक्त्रं त्रिलोचना तस्याः पूर्वमुखं सौम्यं स्वाकारसदृशप्रभम्

Her faces shine like the rising sun, each with three eyes; her eastern face is gentle, radiant with her own form’s brilliance.

दक्षिणं नीलजीमूतसदृशं घोरदर्शनम् उत्तरं विद्रुमप्रख्यं नीलालकविभूषितम्

Her southern face is dark as a storm cloud, fierce in appearance; her northern face is coral-hued, adorned with blue locks.