Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

शिवज्ञानिषुलक्षेषु ध्यानयुक्तो विशिष्यते ध्यानयुक्तेषु कोटिभ्यः समाधिस्थो विशिष्यते

Among thousands who know Shiva, the one engaged in meditation is superior; among millions engaged in meditation, the one established in samadhi excels.

उत्तरोत्तर वै शिष्ट्यात्पूजायामुत्तरोत्तरम् फलंवैशिष्ट्यरूपञ्चदुर्विज्ञेयंमनीषिभिः

In worship, each successive stage is superior to the previous; the result, in its special form, is difficult for the wise to comprehend.

तस्माद्वैशिवभक्तस्यमहिमानंवेत्तिकोनरः शिवशक्त्योः पूजनं च शिवभक्तस्य पूजनम्

Therefore, who can truly know the greatness of a devotee of Shiva? The worship of Shiva and Shakti, and the honoring of Shiva's devotees—

कुरुतेयोनरोभक्त्यासशिवः शिवमेधते य इमं पठते ऽध्यायमर्थवद्वेदसंमतम्

Whoever performs these with devotion is united with Shiva; whoever recites and studies this meaningful, Veda-approved teaching—

शिवज्ञानीभवेद्विप्रःशिवेन सहमोदते श्रावयेच्छिवभक्तांश्चविशेषज्ञो मनीश्वराः

That Brahmin becomes a knower of Shiva, rejoices with Shiva, and should instruct the devotees of Shiva, being especially learned and wise.

शिवप्रसादशिद्धिः स्याच्छिवस्यकृपया बुधाः

The attainment of Shiva's grace comes by the compassion of Shiva, O wise ones.

बंधमोक्षस्वरूपं हि ब्रूहि सर्वार्थवित्तम बंधमोक्षंतथोपायंवक्ष्ये ऽहंशृणुतादरात्

O knower of all meanings, tell me the true nature of bondage and liberation. I shall now explain bondage, liberation, and the means—listen attentively.

प्रकृत्याद्यष्टबंधेनबद्धोजीवः स उच्यते प्रकृत्याद्यष्टबंधेननिर्मुक्तोमुक्त उच्यते

The soul bound by the eightfold bond, beginning with nature, is called bound; freed from the eightfold bond, beginning with nature, it is called liberated.

प्रकृत्यादिवशीकारोमोक्ष इत्युच्यतेस्वतः बद्धजीवस्तुनिर्मुक्तोमुक्तजीवः स कथ्यते

Being under the control of nature and the rest is called bondage; being free from them is called liberation. The soul that is bound is called bound, and the one freed is called liberated.

प्रकृत्यग्रेततोबुद्धिरहंकारोगुणात्मकः पञ्चतन्मात्रमित्येतेप्रकृत्याद्यष्टकंविदुः

Nature, intellect, ego composed of qualities, and the five subtle elements—these are known as the eight, beginning with nature.

प्रकृट्याद्यष्टजोदेहोदेहजंकर्म उच्यते पुनश्चकर्मजोदेहोजन्मकर्मपुनःपुनः

The body arising from the eightfold nature is said to be born of karma; again, the body arising from karma leads to repeated birth and action.

शरीरंत्रिविधंज्ञेयंस्थूलंसूक्ष्मंचकारणम् स्थूलंव्यापारदंप्रोक्तंसूक्ष्ममिंद्रियभोगदम्

Know the body to be of three kinds: gross, subtle, and causal. The gross is said to be the agent of action; the subtle gives enjoyment through the senses.

कारणंत्वात्मभोगार्थंजीवकर्मानुरूपतः सुखं दुःखं पुण्यपापैः कर्मभिः फलमश्नुते

The causal body exists for the soul's experience, according to the soul's karma. Through actions of merit and demerit, one experiences happiness and sorrow as their result.

तस्माद्धिकर्मरज्ज्वा हि बद्धो जीवः पुनः पुनः शरीरत्रयकर्मभ्यां चक्रवद्भ्राम्यते सदा

Therefore, the soul is bound again and again by the rope of karma, and always revolves like a wheel through the actions of the three bodies.

चक्रभ्रमनिवृत्यर्थं चक्रकर्तारमीडयेत् प्रकृत्यादि महाचक्रं प्रकृतेः परतः शिवः

For the cessation of the wheel's turning, one should worship the maker of the wheel; the great wheel, beginning with nature, is Shiva, who is beyond nature.

चक्रकर्तामहेशो हि प्रकृतेः परतोयतः पिबतिवाथवमतिजीवन्बालोजलंयथा

Indeed, the great Lord, the maker of the wheel, is beyond nature; just as a child drinks water, whether knowingly or not, so too does he.

शिवस्तथा प्रकृत्यादि वशीकृत्याधितिष्ठति सर्वंवशीकृतंयस्मात्तस्माच्छिव इति स्मृतः शिव एव हि सर्वज्ञः परिपूर्णश्च निःस्पृहः

In the same way, Shiva, having subdued nature and the rest, presides over all; because everything is under his control, he is called Shiva. Truly, Shiva alone is all-knowing, complete, and free from desire.

सर्वज्ञतातृप्तिरनादिबोधः स्वतंत्रता नित्यमलुप्तशक्तिः अनंतशक्तिश्चमहेश्वरस्य यन्मानसैश्वर्यमवैति वेदः

Omniscience, contentment, beginningless knowledge, eternal independence, unceasing power, and infinite energy—these are the mental sovereignties of the great Lord, which the Veda recognizes.

अतः शिवप्रसादेन प्रकृत्यादिवशंभवेत् शिवप्रसादलाभार्थं शिवमेवप्रपूजयतेत्

Therefore, by Shiva's grace, one may become free from the power of nature and so forth; for the sake of obtaining Shiva's grace, one should worship only Shiva.

निःस्पृहस्य च पूर्णस्यतस्य पूजाकथं भवेत् शिवोद्देशकृतं कर्म प्रसादजनकं भवेत्

But how can there be worship of him who is desireless and complete? Actions performed for the sake of Shiva become the cause of his grace.

लिंगेबेरेभक्तजनेशिवमुद्दिश्यपूजयेत् कायेनमनसावाचाधनेनापिप्रपूजयेत्

One should worship Shiva, with devotion, in the emblem or in other forms, with body, mind, speech, and even with wealth.

पुजया तु महेशो हि प्रकृतेः परमः शिवः प्रसादंकुरुतेसत्यंपूजकस्यविशेषतः

By worship, the supreme Shiva, who is beyond nature, truly bestows grace—especially upon the worshipper.

शिवप्रसादात्कर्माद्यंक्रमेणस्ववशंभवेत् कर्मारभ्यप्रकृत्यंतंयदासर्वं वशंभवेत्

By Shiva's grace, actions and so forth, in due order, come under one's own control; when actions, beginning with karma and ending with nature, are mastered, all becomes subject to one's will.

तदामुक्त इतिप्रोक्तःस्वात्मारामोविराजते प्रसादात्परमेशस्यकर्म देहोयदावशः

Then, one is called 'liberated,' delighting in one's own self; by the grace of the Supreme Lord, when the body and actions are under control, one shines forth.

तदावैशिवलोकेतुवासःसालोक्यमुच्यते सामीप्यंयातिसांबस्यतन्मात्रेचवशंगते

Then, dwelling in Shiva's world is called 'sālokya' (sharing the same realm); attaining nearness to Sambhu is 'sāmīpya,' and in mere subjection to him, one attains his state.

तदातुशिवसायुज्यमायुधाद्यैः क्रियादिभिः महाप्रसादलाभेचबुद्धिश्चापिवशाभवेत्

Then, union with Shiva (sāyujya) is achieved by means of weapons and other rites; with the attainment of great grace, even the intellect comes under control.

बुद्धिस्तुकार्यंप्रकृतेस्तत्सृष्टिरितिकथ्यते पुनर्महाप्रसादेनप्रकृतिर्वशमेष्यति

The intellect, which is the cause of action, is said to be a creation of nature; but again, through great grace, nature itself will come under control.

शिवस्यमानसैश्वर्यंतदा ऽयत्नंभविष्यति सार्वज्ञाद्यंशिवैश्वर्यंलब्ध्वास्वात्मनि राजते

Then, the mental sovereignty of Shiva will arise effortlessly; having obtained Shiva's omniscience and other powers, one shines in one's own self.

तत्सायुज्यमितिप्राहुर्वेदागमपरायणाः एवंक्रमेणमुक्तिःस्याल्लिंगादौपूजयास्वतः

This union (sāyujya), say those devoted to the Vedas and Āgamas, is thus attained step by step; liberation comes from worship, beginning with the emblem (liṅga).