Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

छेदनं ताडनं चैव बंधनं मोचनं तथा ग्रहणं सर्वभूतानां संसारवशवर्तिनाम्

Cutting, striking, binding, releasing, and seizing all beings who are subject to the cycle of existence.

प्रसादश्चापि सर्वेषां मृत्युकालजयस्तथा आभिमानिकमैश्वर्यं प्राजापत्यं प्रचक्षते

Granting favor to all, conquering the time of death—this is called the sovereignty of Prajapati, arising from the sense of self.

एतच्चान्द्रमसैर्भोगैः षट्पञ्चाशद्गुणं महत् सर्गः संकल्पमात्रेण त्राणं संहरणं तथा

With lunar enjoyments, this great power is fifty-sixfold: creation by mere will, as well as protection and dissolution.

स्वाधिकारश्च सर्वेषां भूतचित्तप्रवर्तनम् असादृश्यं च सर्वस्य निर्माणं जगतः पृथक्

Sovereignty over all, directing the minds of beings, uniqueness in everything, and the separate creation of the world.

शुभाशुभस्य करणं प्राजापत्यैश्च संयुतम् चतुष्षष्ठिगुणं ब्राह्ममैश्वर्यं च प्रचक्षते

Doing what is auspicious or inauspicious, united with the powers of Prajapati; the sixty-fourfold Brahmic sovereignty is thus declared.

बौद्धादस्मात्परं गौणमैश्वर्यं प्राकृतं विदुः वैष्णवं तत्समाख्यातं तस्यैव भुवनस्थितिः ब्रह्मणा तत्पदं सर्वं वक्तुमन्यैर्न शक्यते

Beyond this, the secondary, natural sovereignty is known as belonging to the intellect; that is called Vaishnava, and its domain is the maintenance of the worlds. That supreme state of Brahman cannot be described by others.

तत्पौरुषं च गौणं च गणेशं पदमैश्वरम् विष्णुना तत्पदं किंचिज्ज्ञातुमन्यैर्न शक्यते

That Purusha and the secondary, Ganesha sovereignty—its state cannot be known by others, even by Vishnu.

विज्ञानसिद्धयश्चैव सर्वा एवौपसर्गिकाः निरोद्धव्या प्रयत्नेन वर्राग्येण परेण तु

All attainments of knowledge are indeed accompanied by obstacles; they must be restrained with diligent and supreme detachment.

प्रतिभासेष्वशुद्धेषु गुणेष्वासक्तचेतसः न सिध्येत्परमैश्वर्यमभयं सार्वकामिकम्

For those whose minds are attached to impure manifestations and qualities, the supreme, fearless, all-desiring sovereignty does not arise.

तस्माद्गुणांश्च भोगांश्च देवासुरमहीभृताम् तृणवद्यस्त्यजेत्तस्य योगसिद्धिः परा भवेत्

Therefore, one should abandon the qualities and enjoyments of gods, demons, and kings as if they were straw; for him, the highest yogic attainment will arise.

अथवानुग्रहेच्छायां जगतो विचरेन्मुनिः यथाकामंगुणान्भोगान्भुक्त्वा मुक्तिं प्रयास्यति

Or, if the sage wishes to show grace to the world, he may move about, enjoying qualities and pleasures as he wishes, and then attain liberation.

अथ प्रयोगं योगस्य वक्ष्ये शृणु समाहितः शुभे काले शुभे देशे शिवक्षेत्रादिके पुनः विजने जंतुरहिते निःशब्दे बाधवर्जिते

Now I shall explain the procedure of yoga; listen attentively. At an auspicious time, in an auspicious place, especially in a sacred area of Shiva, or in a secluded spot free from living beings, in silence, and without disturbance—

सुप्रलिप्ते स्थले सौम्ये गन्धधूपादिवासिते मुक्तपुष्पसमाकीर्णे वितानादि विचित्रिते

—on a well-anointed, pleasant ground, fragrant with incense and perfumes, strewn with fresh flowers, and adorned with canopies and decorations—

कुशपुष्पसमित्तोयफलमूलसमन्विते नाग्न्यभ्याशे जलाभ्याशे शुष्कपर्णचये ऽपि वा

—supplied with kusa grass, flowers, sacrificial twigs, water, fruits, and roots; whether near fire, near water, or even upon a heap of dry leaves—

न दंशमशकाकीर्णे सर्पश्वापदसंकुले न च दुष्टमृगाकीर्णे न भये दुर्जनावृते

Not in a place swarming with biting insects or mosquitoes, nor in a spot infested by snakes or wild beasts, nor where there are wicked animals, nor in a place of fear or surrounded by evil people—

श्मशाने चैत्यवल्मीके जीर्णागारे चतुष्पथे नदीनदसमुद्राणां तीरे रथ्यांतरे ऽपि वा

Not in a cremation ground, an abandoned mound, a dilapidated house, a crossroads, on the banks of rivers, streams, or oceans, nor in the middle of a street—

न जीर्णोद्यानगोष्ठादौ नानिष्टे न च निंदिते नाजीर्णाम्लरसोद्गारे न च विण्मूत्रदूषिते

Not in an old garden, cowshed, or any inauspicious or disreputable place; not after eating indigestible or sour foods, nor where there is filth of excrement or urine—

नच्छर्द्यामातिसारे वा नातिभुक्तौ श्रमान्विते न चातिचिंताकुलितो न चातिक्षुत्पिपासितः

Not while vomiting, with diarrhea, after overeating, or when exhausted; not when overwhelmed by worry, nor when excessively hungry or thirsty—

नापि स्वगुरुकर्मादौ प्रसक्तो योगमाचरेत् युक्ताहारविहारश्च युक्तचेष्टश्च कर्मसु

Nor should one practice yoga while engaged in one's own or the guru's duties; one should be moderate in food and recreation, and balanced in actions—

युक्तनिद्राप्रबोधश्च सर्वायासविवर्जितः आसनं मृदुलं रम्यं विपुलं सुसमं शुचि

Balanced in sleep and wakefulness, avoiding all exertion; seated on a soft, pleasant, spacious, level, and clean seat—

पद्मकस्वस्तिकादीनामभ्यसेदासनेषु च अभिवंद्य स्वगुर्वंतानभिवाद्याननुक्रमात्

One should practice postures such as lotus or svastika; after respectfully greeting one's own teachers and elders, in proper order—

ऋजुग्रीवशिरोवक्षा नातिष्ठेच्छिष्टलोचनः किंचिदुन्नामितशिरा दंतैर्दंतान्न संस्पृशेत्

With the neck, head, and chest straight, not staring, the head slightly raised, and the teeth not touching each other—

दंताग्रसंस्थिता जिह्वामचलां सन्निवेश्य च पार्ष्णिभ्यां वृषणौ रक्षंस्तथा प्रजननं पुनः

The tongue placed motionless at the tip of the teeth; protecting the testicles and the generative organ with the heels—

ऊर्वोरुपरि संस्थाप्य बाहू तिर्यगयत्नतः दक्षिणं करपृष्ठं तु न्यस्य वामतलोपरि

Placing the arms crosswise with care above the thighs, the back of the right hand resting on the palm of the left—

उन्नाम्य शनकैः पृष्ठमुरो विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्

Raising the back gently, keeping the chest firm in front, gazing at the tip of one's nose, not glancing in any direction—

संभृतप्राणसंचारः पाषाण इव निश्चलः स्वदेहायतनस्यांतर्विचिंत्य शिवमंबया

With the flow of breath gathered and steady, motionless like a stone, contemplating Shiva within the inner sanctuary of one's own body—

हृत्पद्मपीठिकामध्ये ध्यानयज्ञेन पूजयेत् मूले नासाग्रतो नाभौ कंठे वा तालुरंध्रयोः

In the center of the lotus-seat of the heart, one should worship by the sacrifice of meditation—at the base, at the tip of the nose, at the navel, at the throat, or at the palate—

भ्रूमध्ये द्वारदेशे वा ललाटे मूर्ध्नि वा स्मरेत् परिकल्प्य यथान्यायं शिवयोः परमासनम्

At the midpoint between the eyebrows, at the gateway, on the forehead, or at the crown, one should remember, establishing in due order the supreme seat of Shiva and the Goddess—

तत्र सावरणं वापि निरावरणमेव वा द्विदलेषोडशारे वा द्वादशारे यथाविधि

There, whether with a covering or without, in a lotus of two petals, of sixteen petals, or of twelve petals, as prescribed—