Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

तांस्तत्रावस्थितान् पृष्ट्वा कुशलं कमलासनः वृत्तांतं वो मया ज्ञातं वायुरेवाह नो यतः

Having asked about their well-being as they stood there, the lotus-seated one said, 'I have learned your story, for Vāyu himself told us.'

भवद्भिः किं कृतं पश्चान्मारुतेंतर्हिते सति इत्युक्तवति देवेशे मुनयो ऽवभृथात्परम्

When the Lord of the gods asked, 'What did you do after Vāyu disappeared?' the sages, having completed their ablutions, replied.

गंगातीर्थेस्य गमनं यात्रां वाराणसीं प्रति दर्शनं तत्र लिंगानां स्थापितानां सुरेश्वरैः

They spoke of their journey to the holy places of the Gaṅgā, their pilgrimage to Vārāṇasī, and the sight of the liṅgas established there by the lords of the gods.

अविमुक्तेश्वरस्यापि लिंगस्याभ्यर्चनं सकृत् आकाशे महतस्तस्य तेजोराशेश्च दर्शनम्

They also described their worship, even once, of the liṅga of Avimukteśvara, and their vision of that great mass of light in the sky.

मुनीनां विलयं तत्र निरोधं तेजसस्ततः याथात्म्यवेदनं तस्य चिंतितस्यापि चात्मभिः

They told of the dissolution of the sages there, the merging into the light, and the realization of its true nature, even as conceived by themselves.

सर्वं सविस्तरं तस्मै प्रणम्याहुर्मुहुर्मुहुः मुनिभिः कथितं श्रुत्वा विश्वकर्मा चतुर्मुखः

Having bowed repeatedly, the sages recounted everything in detail to him; hearing what was told, Viśvakarman, the four-faced one, listened.

कंपयित्वा शिरः किंचित्प्राह गंभीरया गिरा प्रत्यासीदति युष्माकं सिद्धिरामुष्मिकी परा

Shaking his head slightly, he spoke in a deep voice, 'The highest success for you all is now at hand.'

भवद्भिर्दीर्घसत्रेण चिरमाराधितः प्रभुः प्रसादाभिमुखो भूत इति भुतार्थसूचितम्

'By you, through a long sacrifice, the Lord has been worshipped for a long time; he is now disposed to grant favor, as the meaning of your actions indicates.'

वाराणस्यां तु युष्माभिर्यद्दृष्टं दिवि दीप्तिमत् तल्लिंगसंज्ञितं साक्षात्तेजो माहेश्वरं परम्

What you saw in Varanasi, shining in the sky, is that very linga, the manifest, supreme, divine radiance of Maheshvara.

तत्र लीनाश्च मुनयः श्रौतपाशुपतव्रताः मुक्ता बभूवुः स्वस्थाश्च नैष्ठिका दग्धकिल्बिषाः

There, sages devoted to Vedic and Pashupata vows, having merged, became liberated, steadfast, resolute, and freed from all sin.

प्राप्यानेन यथा मुक्तिरचिराद्भवतामपि स चायमर्थः सूच्येत युष्मद्दृष्टेन तेजसा

By means of this, liberation will soon come to you as well; this is the meaning indicated by the radiance you witnessed.

तत्र वः काल एवैष दैवादुपनतः स्वयम् प्रयात दक्षिणं मेरोः शिखरं देवसेवितम्

Now the destined time has arrived for you; go at once to the southern peak of Meru, revered by the gods.

सनत्कुमारो यत्रास्ते मम पुत्रः परो मुनिः प्रतीक्ष्यागमनं साक्षाद्भूतनाथस्य नंदिनः

There dwells Sanatkumara, my exalted son, a great sage, awaiting the arrival of Nandi, the lord of beings, in person.

पुरा सनत्कुमारोपि दृष्ट्वापि परमेश्वरम् अज्ञानात्सर्वयोगीन्द्रमानी विनयदूषितः

Long ago, even Sanatkumara, though he saw the Supreme Lord, out of ignorance and pride as master of all yogis, failed in proper respect.

अभ्युत्थानादिकं युक्तमकुर्वन्नतिनिर्भयः ततो ऽपराधात्क्रुद्धेन महोष्ट्रो नंदिना कृतः

He did not perform the proper acts of rising and greeting, being fearless and lacking humility; for this offense, Nandi, enraged, turned him into a great camel.

अथ कालेन महता तदर्थे शोचता मया उपास्य देवं देवीञ्च नंदिनं चानुनीय वै

After a long time, grieving for that reason, I worshipped the Lord, the Goddess, and earnestly appeased Nandi.

कथंचिदुष्ट्रता तस्य प्रयत्नेन निवारिता प्रापितो हि यथापूर्वं सनत्पूर्वां कुमारताम्

By great effort, his camel form was somehow removed, and Sanatkumara was restored to his original youthful state.

तदाह च महादेवः स्मयन्निव गणाधिपम् अवज्ञाय हि मामेव तथाहंकृतवान्मुनिः

Then Mahadeva, smiling, spoke to the lord of the ganas: 'Because he disrespected me, the sage acted with such pride.'

अतस्त्वमेव याथात्म्यं ममास्मै कथयानघ ब्रह्मणः पूर्वजः पुत्रो मां मूढ इव संस्मरन्

Therefore, you alone must reveal my true nature to him, O sinless one; though he is the eldest son of Brahma, he remembers me as if deluded.

मयैव शिष्यते दत्तो मम ज्ञानप्रवर्तकः धर्माध्यक्षाभिषेकं च तव निर्वर्तयिष्यति

I myself have given him as your disciple, to be initiated into knowledge by you; he will also perform your consecration as overseer of dharma.