Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

षडध्वशुद्धिं विधिवत्प्राप्तो वा म्रियते यदि पशूनामिव तस्येह न कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्

If, having properly attained the purification of the six paths, he dies, then, as with animals, no posthumous rites should be performed for him here.

नैवाशौचं प्रपद्येत तत्पुत्रादिविशेषतः शिवचारार्थमथवा शिवविद्यार्थमेव वा खनेद्वा भुवि तद्देहं दहेद्वा शुचिनाग्निना

One should not observe impurity rites, even for one's own son or others, if it is for the sake of Śiva's conduct, or for the pursuit of Śiva's knowledge; rather, one may bury that body in the earth or burn it with pure fire.

क्षिपेद्वाप्सु शिवास्वेव त्यजेद्वा काष्ठलोष्टवत् अथैनमपि चोद्दिश्य कर्म चेत्कर्तुमीप्सितम्

Or one may cast it into water, or abandon it in a place belonging to Śiva, just as one would discard wood or a clod of earth; or, having offered it, one may perform whatever rite is desired.

कल्याणमेव कुर्वीत शक्त्या भक्तांश्च तर्पयेत् धनं तस्य भजेच्छैवः शैवी चेतस्य सन्ततिः

One should do only what is auspicious, to the best of one's ability, and satisfy the devotees; if the wealth belongs to a Śaiva, it should be given to Śaivas, or to the lineage of a Śaiva.

इति स विजितमन्योर्यादवेनोपमन्योरधिगतमभिधाय ज्ञानयोगं मुनिभ्यः प्रणतिमुपगतेभ्यस्तेभ्य उद्भावितात्मा सपदि वियति वायुः सायमन्तर्हितो ऽभूत्

Thus, having described to the sages the knowledge and yoga attained by Upamanyu from Yādava, and having bowed to those who had approached, that self-realized Vāyu immediately vanished into the sky at dusk.

ततः प्रभातसमये नैमिषीयास्तपोधनाः सत्रान्ते ऽवभृथं कर्तुं सर्व एव समुद्ययुः

Then, at dawn, the ascetic sages of Naimiṣa, at the conclusion of the sacrificial session, all set out together to perform the concluding bath.

तदा ब्रह्मसमादेशाद्देवी साक्षात्सरस्वती प्रसन्ना स्वादुसलिला प्रावर्तत नदीशुभा

At that time, by the command of Brahmā, the goddess Sarasvatī herself, pleased, began to flow as a sacred and sweet river.

सरस्वतीं नदीं दृष्ट्वा मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः समाप्य सत्रं प्रारब्धं चक्रुस्तत्रावगाहनम्

Seeing the river Sarasvatī, the sages, their minds filled with joy, completed the sacrificial session and then bathed there.

अथ संतर्प्य देवादींस्तदीयैः सलिलैः शिवैः स्मरन्तः पूर्ववृत्तान्तं ययुर्वाराणसीं प्रति

Then, having satisfied the gods and others with those sacred waters, remembering the previous events, they set out towards Vārāṇasī.

तदा ते हिमवत्पादात्पंततीं दक्षिणामुखीम् दृष्ट्वा भागीरथी तत्र स्नात्वा तत्तीरतो ययुः

At that time, seeing the southern-flowing Bhāgīrathī descending from the foot of Himavat, they bathed there and then departed from its bank.

ततो वाराणसीं प्राप्य मुदितास्सर्व एव ते तदोत्तरप्रवाहायां गंगायामवगाह्य च

Then, having reached Vārāṇasī, all of them, filled with joy, entered the northern-flowing Gaṅgā and bathed there.

अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिंगं दृष्ट्वाभ्यर्च्य विधानतः प्रयातुमुद्यतास्तत्र ददृशुर्दिवि भास्वरम्

Having seen and duly worshipped the liṅga of Avimukteśvara, as they were about to depart, they saw something radiant in the sky.

सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशं तेजोदिव्यं महाद्भुतम् आत्मप्रभावितानेन व्याप्तसर्वदिगन्तरम्

It was a divine, wondrous light, resembling ten million suns, whose own brilliance filled all directions.

अथ पाशुपताः सिद्धाः भस्मसञ्छन्नविग्रहाः मुनयो ऽभ्येत्य शतशो लीनाः स्युस्तत्र तेजसि

Then, hundreds of accomplished Pāśupata sages, their bodies covered in ash, approached and merged into that light.

तथा विलीयमानेषु तपस्विषु महात्मसु सद्यस्तिरोदधे तेजस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्

As those great ascetics were thus dissolving, that wondrous light instantly disappeared, as if it had never been.

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं नैमिषीया महर्षयः किमेतदित्यजानन्तो ययुर्ब्रह्मवनं प्रति

Seeing this great marvel, the great sages of Naimiṣa, not knowing what it was, set out towards Brahmāvana.

प्रागेवैषां तु गमनात्पवनो लोकपावनः दर्शनं नैमिषीयाणां संवादस्तैर्महात्मनः

But before they arrived, Vāyu, purifier of the worlds, appeared to the Naimiṣa sages, and there was a conversation with those great souls.

शद्धां बुद्धिं ततस्तेषां सांबे सानुचरे शिवे समाप्तिं चापि सत्रस्य दीर्घपूर्वस्य सत्रिणाम्

He inspired in them faith and understanding in Śiva, the Lord with his attendants, and also brought the long sacrificial session of the sacrificers to completion.

विज्ञाप्य जगतां धात्रे ब्रह्मणे ब्रह्मयोनये स्वकार्ये तदनुज्ञातो जगाम स्वपुरं प्रति

Having informed Brahmā, the creator and source of the universe, of his own task, and having received permission, he returned to his own abode.

अथ स्थानगतो ब्रह्मा तुम्बुरोर्नारदस्य च परस्पर स्पर्धितयोर्गाने विवदमानयोः

Then, as Brahmā sat in his place, Tumburu and Nārada, out of mutual rivalry, began to dispute in song.

तदुद्भावितगानोत्थरसैर्माध्यस्थमाचरन् गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च सुखमास्ते निषेवितः

Delighting in the melodies that arose from their singing, Brahmā, attended by Gandharvas and Apsarases, sat comfortably in their midst.

तदानवसरादेव द्वाःस्थैर्द्वारि निवारिताः मुनयो ब्रह्मभवनाद्बहिः पार्श्वमुपाविशन्

At that moment, because there was no opportunity, the sages were stopped at the door by the doorkeepers and sat down outside Brahmā’s abode.

अथ तुम्बुरुणा गाने समतां प्राप्य नारदः साहचर्येष्वनुज्ञातो ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना

Then, when Nārada had attained equality with Tumburu in singing, he was permitted by Brahmā, the supreme lord, to join in companionship.

त्यक्त्वा परस्परस्पर्धां मैत्रीं च परमां गतः सह तेनाप्सरोभिश्च गन्धर्वैश्च समावृतः

Abandoning their mutual rivalry, they attained the highest friendship, surrounded together by Apsarases and Gandharvas.

उपवीणयितुं देवं नकुलीश्वरमीश्वरम् भवनान्निर्ययौ धातुर्जलदादंशुमानिव

Then, to play the lute before the Lord Nakulīśvara, the Lord, Nārada departed from the house of the Creator, like the sun emerging from a cloud.

तं दृष्ट्वा षट्कुलीयास्ते नारदं मुनिगोवृषम् प्रणम्यावसरं शंभोः पप्रच्छुः परमादरात्

Seeing Nārada, the bull among sages, those of the six lineages bowed to him and, with great reverence, asked about the opportunity to see Śambhu.

स चावसर एवायमितोंतर्गम्यतामिति वदन्ययावन्यपरस्त्वरया परया युतः

He replied, 'Now is the time; let us go inside,' and, joined by great eagerness, he quickly led the others in.

ततो द्वारि स्थिता ये वै ब्रह्मणे तान्न्यवेदयन् तेन ते विविशुर्वेश्म पिंडीभूयांडजन्मनः

Then he informed those standing at the door for Brahmā, and so they, the offspring of the cosmic egg, entered the house together.

प्रविश्य दूरतो देवं प्रणम्य भुवि दंडवत् समीपे तदनुज्ञाताः परिवृत्योपतस्थिरे

Entering, they bowed to the Lord from a distance, prostrating themselves on the ground, and, having been permitted, they approached and stood nearby.