Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa विद्येश्वरसंहिता Chapter 5
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॥ ॐ श्रीसाम्बशिवाय नमः ॥    ॥ ॐ श्रीगणेशाय नमः ॥

श्रीशिवमहापुराण

विद्येश्वरसंहिता
Chapter Five · The Greatness of the Liṅga · Verses 1–31

अथ पञ्चमोऽध्यायः

The sages ask why Śiva alone is worshipped in both liṅga and image, while other gods are worshipped only in an image. Sūta answers: Śiva, being the form of Brahman, is both formless and embodied, so both liṅga and image belong to him; other gods, being only embodied souls, take an image alone. He retells how Nandikeśvara taught this to Sanatkumāra, and how Śiva's liṅga first appeared as a pillar of light between the warring Brahmā and Viṣṇu. मुनि पूछते हैं कि शिव अकेले ही लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों में क्यों पूजे जाते हैं, जबकि अन्य देवता केवल मूर्ति में। सूत उत्तर देते हैं: शिव ब्रह्मरूप होने से निराकार और साकार दोनों हैं, इसलिए लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों उन्हीं के हैं; अन्य देवता केवल सकल जीव होने से मूर्ति-मात्र में पूजे जाते हैं। वे बताते हैं कि यह नन्दिकेश्वर ने सनत्कुमार को कैसे सिखाया, और शिव का लिंग युद्धरत ब्रह्मा-विष्णु के बीच ज्योतिस्तम्भ के रूप में पहली बार कैसे प्रकट हुआ।

सूत उवाच — Sūta spoke: सूत ने कहा:

श्रवणादित्रिकेऽशक्तो लिङ्गं वेरं च शाङ्करम् । संस्थाप्य नित्यमभ्यर्च्य तरेत् संसारसागरम् ॥

śravaṇāditrike'śakto liṅgaṃ veraṃ ca śāṅkaram | saṃsthāpya nityamabhyarcya taret saṃsārasāgaram ||

· हिन्दी

जो श्रवण आदि त्रिक में असमर्थ हो, वह शंकर के लिंग और मूर्ति की स्थापना करके, नित्य पूजा करके संसार-सागर से पार हो सकता है।

One unable in the triad beginning with hearing may, by setting up Śaṅkara's liṅga and image and worshipping it daily, cross the ocean of saṃsāra.

Word by word

श्रवण-आदि-त्रिके (śravaṇa-ādi-trike) — in the triad beginning with hearingअशक्तः (aśaktaḥ) — one unableलिङ्गम् (liṅgam) — the liṅgaवेरम् च (veram ca) — and the imageशाङ्करम् (śāṅkaram) — of Śaṅkaraसंस्थाप्य (saṃsthāpya) — having installedनित्यम् (nityam) — dailyअभ्यर्च्य (abhyarcya) — having worshippedतरेत् (taret) — would crossसंसार-सागरम् (saṃsāra-sāgaram) — the ocean of the world

अपि द्रव्यं वहेदेव यथाबलमवञ्चयन् । अर्पयेल्लिङ्गवेरार्थमर्चयेदपि सन्ततम् ॥

api dravyaṃ vahedeva yathābalamavañcayan | arpayelliṅgaverārthamarcayedapi santatam ||

· हिन्दी

छल न करते हुए यथाशक्ति धन ले जाए, उसे लिंग और मूर्ति के लिए अर्पित करे, और निरन्तर पूजा भी करे।

Without cheating, he should bring wealth as he is able, offer it for the sake of the liṅga and the image, and worship it continually.

Word by word

अपि (api) — evenद्रव्यम् (dravyam) — goodsवहेत् एव (vahet eva) — let him carryयथा-बलम् (yathā-balam) — as his strength allowsअवञ्चयन् (avañcayan) — without cheatingअर्पयेत् (arpayet) — let him offerलिङ्ग-वेर-अर्थम् (liṅga-vera-artham) — for the liṅga and the imageअर्चयेत् अपि (arcayet api) — and let him worshipसन्ततम् (santatam) — unceasingly

मण्डपं गोपुरं तीर्थं मठं क्षेत्रं तथोत्सवम् । वस्त्रं गन्धं च माल्यं च धूपं दीपं च भक्तितः ॥

maṇḍapaṃ gopuraṃ tīrthaṃ maṭhaṃ kṣetraṃ tathotsavam | vastraṃ gandhaṃ ca mālyaṃ ca dhūpaṃ dīpaṃ ca bhaktitaḥ ||

· हिन्दी

मण्डप, गोपुर, तीर्थ, मठ, क्षेत्र और उत्सव भी; वस्त्र, गन्ध, माला, धूप और दीप — भक्ति से —

A pavilion, a gate-tower, a sacred ford, a monastery, a holy field, and a festival too, cloth, perfume, garland, incense and lamp — with devotion —

Word by word

मण्डपम् (maṇḍapam) — a pavilionगोपुरम् (gopuram) — a gate-towerतीर्थम् (tīrtham) — a bathing tankमठम् (maṭham) — a monasteryक्षेत्रम् (kṣetram) — a holy fieldतथा उत्सवम् (tathā utsavam) — and a festivalवस्त्रम् (vastram) — clothगन्धम् च (gandham ca) — and perfumeमाल्यम् च (mālyam ca) — and a garlandधूपम् (dhūpam) — incenseदीपम् च (dīpam ca) — and a lampभक्तितः (bhaktitaḥ) — out of devotion

विविधान्नं च नैवेद्यमपूपव्यञ्जनैर्युतम् । छत्रं ध्वजं च व्यजनं चामरं चापि साङ्गकम् ॥

vividhānnaṃ ca naivedyamapūpavyañjanairyutam | chatraṃ dhvajaṃ ca vyajanaṃ cāmaraṃ cāpi sāṅgakam ||

· हिन्दी

— विविध अन्न, नैवेद्य, पूए और व्यंजनों सहित; छत्र, ध्वज, पंखा, और चामर भी, अंगों सहित —

— various foods as offerings, joined with cakes and dishes; a parasol, a banner, a fan, and a whisk too, with all its parts —

Word by word

विविध-अन्नम् (vividha-annam) — food of many kindsच नैवेद्यम् (ca naivedyam) — and the offeringअपूप-व्यञ्जनैः युतम् (apūpa-vyañjanaiḥ yutam) — with cakes and savouriesछत्रम् (chatram) — a parasolध्वजम् च (dhvajam ca) — and a bannerव्यजनम् (vyajanam) — a fanचामरम् (cāmaram) — a yak-tail whiskच अपि (ca api) — alsoसाङ्गकम् (sāṅgakam) — complete with all its parts

राजोपचारवत् सर्वं धारयेल्लिङ्गवेरयोः । प्रदक्षिणां नमस्कारं यथाशक्ति जपं तथा ॥

rājopacāravat sarvaṃ dhārayelliṅgaverayoḥ | pradakṣiṇāṃ namaskāraṃ yathāśakti japaṃ tathā ||

· हिन्दी

— यह सब राजोपचार की भाँति लिंग और मूर्ति पर चढ़ाए; प्रदक्षिणा, नमस्कार, और यथाशक्ति जप भी।

— all this, as in the honour paid to a king, he should offer to the liṅga and the image; circumambulation, salutation, and recitation as he is able.

Word by word

राज-उपचारवत् (rāja-upacāravat) — as in the service of a kingसर्वम् (sarvam) — all of itधारयेत् (dhārayet) — let him maintainलिङ्ग-वेरयोः (liṅga-verayoḥ) — for the liṅga and the imageप्रदक्षिणाम् (pradakṣiṇām) — circumambulationनमस्कारम् (namaskāram) — prostrationयथा-शक्ति (yathā-śakti) — as he is ableजपम् (japam) — repetition of the mantraतथा (tathā) — likewise

आवाहनादि सर्गान्तं नित्यं कुर्यात् सुभक्तितः । इत्थमभ्यर्चयन् देवं लिङ्गे वेरे च शाङ्करे ॥

āvāhanādi sargāntaṃ nityaṃ kuryāt subhaktitaḥ | itthamabhyarcayan devaṃ liṅge vere ca śāṅkare ||

· हिन्दी

आवाहन से लेकर विसर्जन तक सब कुछ नित्य सच्ची भक्ति से करे; इस प्रकार लिंग और शांकर मूर्ति में देव की पूजा करते हुए —

From the invoking down to the sending-off, he should do it all daily with true devotion; worshipping the god thus, in the liṅga and in Śaṅkara's image —

Word by word

आवाहन-आदि (āvāhana-ādi) — from the invocation onwardसर्ग-अन्तम् (sarga-antam) — to the dismissal at the endनित्यम् (nityam) — dailyकुर्यात् (kuryāt) — let him performसु-भक्तितः (su-bhaktitaḥ) — with true devotionइत्थम् (ittham) — in this wayअभ्यर्चयन् (abhyarcayan) — worshippingदेवम् (devam) — the godलिङ्गे (liṅge) — in the liṅgaवेरे च (vere ca) — and in the imageशाङ्करे (śāṅkare) — of Śaṅkara

सिद्धिमेति शिवप्रीत्या हित्वापि श्रवणादिकम् । लिङ्गवेरार्चनामात्रान्मुक्ताः पूर्वे महाजनाः ॥

siddhimeti śivaprītyā hitvāpi śravaṇādikam | liṅgaverārcanāmātrānmuktāḥ pūrve mahājanāḥ ||

· हिन्दी

— शिव की प्रसन्नता से वह सिद्धि पाता है, श्रवण आदि को छोड़कर भी। पहले के महापुरुष लिंग और मूर्ति के अर्चन-मात्र से मुक्त हो चुके हैं।

— he attains success by Śiva's pleasure, even having left aside hearing and the rest. By the mere worship of liṅga and image the great ones of old were freed.

Word by word

सिद्धिम् एति (siddhim eti) — he reaches perfectionशिव-प्रीत्या (śiva-prītyā) — by Śiva’s favourहित्वा अपि (hitvā api) — even leaving asideश्रवण-आदिकम् (śravaṇa-ādikam) — hearing and the restलिङ्ग-वेर-अर्चना-मात्रात् (liṅga-vera-arcanā-mātrāt) — by the worship of liṅga and image aloneमुक्ताः (muktāḥ) — were set freeपूर्वे (pūrve) — in former timesमहा-जनाः (mahā-janāḥ) — great people

मुनय ऊचुः — The sages spoke: मुनियों ने कहा:

वेरमात्रे तु सर्वत्र पूज्यन्ते देवतागणाः । लिङ्गे वेरे च सर्वत्र कथं सम्पूज्यते शिवः ॥

veramātre tu sarvatra pūjyante devatāgaṇāḥ | liṅge vere ca sarvatra kathaṃ sampūjyate śivaḥ ||

· हिन्दी

मूर्ति-मात्र में ही सर्वत्र देवगण पूजे जाते हैं; भगवान् शिव सर्वत्र लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों में क्यों पूजे जाते हैं?

In the image alone, everywhere, the hosts of gods are worshipped; why is Śiva worshipped everywhere in both the liṅga and the image?

Word by word

वेर-मात्रे (vera-mātre) — in an image onlyतु (tu) — butसर्वत्र (sarvatra) — everywhereपूज्यन्ते (pūjyante) — are worshippedदेवता-गणाः (devatā-gaṇāḥ) — the hosts of godsलिङ्गे (liṅge) — in a liṅgaवेरे च (vere ca) — and in an imageसर्वत्र (sarvatra) — everywhereकथम् (katham) — how is it thatसम्पूज्यते (sampūjyate) — is worshippedशिवः (śivaḥ) — Śiva

सूत उवाच — Sūta spoke: सूत ने कहा:

अहो मुनीश्वराः पुण्यं प्रश्नमेतन्महाद्भुतम् । अत्र वक्ता महादेवो नान्योऽस्ति पुरुषः क्वचित् ॥

aho munīśvarāḥ puṇyaṃ praśnametanmahādbhutam | atra vaktā mahādevo nānyo'sti puruṣaḥ kvacit ||

· हिन्दी

अहो मुनीश्वरो, यह पुण्य प्रश्न अत्यन्त अद्भुत है; इस विषय में महादेव ही वक्ता हैं, अन्य कोई पुरुष कहीं नहीं।

Ah, lords of sages, this is a holy question, most wonderful; on this Mahādeva alone is the speaker — there is no other person anywhere.

Word by word

अहो (aho) — ahमुनि-ईश्वराः (muni-īśvarāḥ) — O lords among sagesपुण्यम् (puṇyam) — holyप्रश्नम् एतत् (praśnam etat) — this questionमहा-अद्भुतम् (mahā-adbhutam) — most wonderfulअत्र (atra) — on thisवक्ता (vaktā) — the one to speakमहादेवः (mahādevaḥ) — is Mahādevaन अन्यः अस्ति (na anyaḥ asti) — there is no otherपुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) — personक्वचित् (kvacit) — anywhere

१० शिवेनोक्तं प्रवक्ष्यामि क्रमाद् गुरुमुखाच्छ्रुतम् । शिवैको ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलः परिकीर्तितः ॥

śivenoktaṃ pravakṣyāmi kramād gurumukhācchrutam | śivaiko brahmarūpatvānniṣkalaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||

2
· हिन्दी

शिव ने जो कहा, गुरु के मुख से क्रम से जैसा सुना, वह मैं कहूँगा। शिव अकेले ब्रह्मरूप होने के कारण निष्कल (निराकार) कहे गए हैं।

What Śiva said, as I heard it in order from my teacher's mouth, I shall now tell. Śiva alone, because he is the form of Brahman, is proclaimed formless.

Word by word

शिवेन उक्तम् (śivena uktam) — what was spoken by Śivaप्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) — I shall declareक्रमात् (kramāt) — in orderगुरु-मुखात् श्रुतम् (guru-mukhāt śrutam) — heard from my teacher’s mouthशिवः एकः (śivaḥ ekaḥ) — Śiva aloneब्रह्म-रूपत्वात् (brahma-rūpatvāt) — because his form is Brahmanनिष्कलः (niṣkalaḥ) — without partsपरिकीर्तितः (parikīrtitaḥ) — is declared to be

११ रूपित्वात् सकलस्तद्वत्तस्मात् सकलनिष्कलः । निष्कलत्वान्निराकारं लिङ्गं तस्य समागतम् ॥

rūpitvāt sakalastadvattasmāt sakalaniṣkalaḥ | niṣkalatvānnirākāraṃ liṅgaṃ tasya samāgatam ||

4
· हिन्दी

रूपवान् होने के कारण वे सकल भी हैं; अतः वे सकल और निष्कल दोनों हैं। निष्कल होने के कारण उनका लिंग निराकार प्राप्त हुआ है।

Being possessed of form, he is likewise embodied; so he is both embodied and formless. Because of his formlessness, a formless liṅga belongs to him.

Word by word

रूपित्वात् (rūpitvāt) — because he has formसकलः (sakalaḥ) — with partsतद्वत् (tadvat) — in the same wayतस्मात् (tasmāt) — thereforeसकल-निष्कलः (sakala-niṣkalaḥ) — both with parts and withoutनिष्कलत्वात् (niṣkalatvāt) — because he is without partsनिराकारम् (nirākāram) — formlessलिङ्गम् (liṅgam) — the liṅgaतस्य (tasya) — for himसमागतम् (samāgatam) — is fitting

१२ सकलत्वात् तथा वेरं साकारं तस्य सङ्गतम् । सकलाकलरूपत्वाद् ब्रह्मशब्दाभिधः परः ॥

sakalatvāt tathā veraṃ sākāraṃ tasya saṅgatam | sakalākalarūpatvād brahmaśabdābhidhaḥ paraḥ ||

4
· हिन्दी

और सकल होने के कारण उनकी साकार मूर्ति भी संगत है; सकल-अकल दोनों रूप होने के कारण वे परमात्मा ब्रह्म शब्द से कहे जाते हैं।

And because he is embodied, a form with shape belongs to him too; because his form is both embodied and unembodied, he, the supreme, is named by the word Brahman.

Word by word

सकलत्वात् (sakalatvāt) — because he has partsतथा (tathā) — likewiseवेरम् (veram) — the imageसाकारम् (sākāram) — with formतस्य (tasya) — for himसङ्गतम् (saṅgatam) — is fittingसकल-अकल-रूपत्वात् (sakala-akala-rūpatvāt) — because his form is both with and without partsब्रह्म-शब्द-अभिधः (brahma-śabda-abhidhaḥ) — named by the word Brahmanपरः (paraḥ) — the supreme

१३ अपि लिङ्गे च वेरे च नित्यमभ्यर्च्यते जनैः । अब्रह्मत्वात्तदन्येषां निष्कलत्वं न हि क्वचित् ॥

api liṅge ca vere ca nityamabhyarcyate janaiḥ | abrahmatvāttadanyeṣāṃ niṣkalatvaṃ na hi kvacit ||

2
· हिन्दी

वे ही लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों में लोगों द्वारा नित्य पूजे जाते हैं; उनसे भिन्न अन्य देवताओं में, ब्रह्म न होने के कारण, कहीं भी निष्कलता नहीं है।

He alone is worshipped daily by people both in the liṅga and in the image; for the others, not being Brahman, there is no formlessness anywhere.

Word by word

अपि (api) — and soलिङ्गे च वेरे च (liṅge ca vere ca) — in liṅga and in imageनित्यम् (nityam) — dailyअभ्यर्च्यते (abhyarcyate) — he is worshippedजनैः (janaiḥ) — by peopleअब्रह्मत्वात् (abrahmatvāt) — not being Brahmanतत्-अन्येषाम् (tat-anyeṣām) — for those other than himनिष्कलत्वम् (niṣkalatvam) — partlessnessन हि क्वचित् (na hi kvacit) — nowhere holds

१४ तस्मात्ते निष्कले लिङ्गे नाराध्यन्ते सुरेश्वराः । अब्रह्मत्वाच्च जीवत्वात्तान्ये देवतागणाः ॥

tasmātte niṣkale liṅge nārādhyante sureśvarāḥ | abrahmatvācca jīvatvāttānye devatāgaṇāḥ ||

2
· हिन्दी

इसलिए वे देवेश्वर निष्कल लिंग में आराधित नहीं होते — वे अन्य देवगण, अब्रह्म होने और जीव होने के कारण।

So the lords of the gods are not worshipped in the formless liṅga — those other hosts of deities, being not Brahman, and being embodied souls.

Word by word

तस्मात् (tasmāt) — thereforeते (te) — theyनिष्कले लिङ्गे (niṣkale liṅge) — in the partless liṅgaन आराध्यन्ते (na ārādhyante) — are not worshippedसुर-ईश्वराः (sura-īśvarāḥ) — the lords of the godsअब्रह्मत्वात् (abrahmatvāt) — not being Brahmanच जीवत्वात् (ca jīvatvāt) — and being individual soulsतत्-अन्ये (tat-anye) — those other than himदेवता-गणाः (devatā-gaṇāḥ) — the hosts of gods

१५ तूष्णीं सकलमात्रत्वादर्च्यन्ते वेरमात्रके । जीवत्वं शङ्करान्येषां ब्रह्मत्वं शङ्करस्य च । वेदान्तसारसंसिद्धं प्रणवार्थे प्रकाशनात् ॥

tūṣṇīṃ sakalamātratvādarcyante veramātrake | jīvatvaṃ śaṅkarānyeṣāṃ brahmatvaṃ śaṅkarasya ca | vedāntasārasaṃsiddhaṃ praṇavārthe prakāśanāt ||

· हिन्दी

मौन रूप से, केवल सकल होने के कारण, वे मूर्ति-मात्र में पूजे जाते हैं। शंकर से अन्य का जीवत्व, और शंकर का ब्रह्मत्व, वेदान्त के सार से सिद्ध है, प्रणव के अर्थ में प्रकाशित होने से।

In silence, being merely embodied, they are worshipped in the image alone. That the others are embodied souls, and Śaṅkara is Brahman, is fully established as the essence of Vedānta, by its being made clear in the meaning of the praṇava.

Word by word

तूष्णीम् (tūṣṇīm) — without more adoसकल-मात्रत्वात् (sakala-mātratvāt) — being possessed of parts onlyअर्च्यन्ते (arcyante) — they are worshippedवेर-मात्रके (vera-mātrake) — in an image aloneजीवत्वम् (jīvatvam) — the state of the individual soulशङ्कर-अन्येषाम् (śaṅkara-anyeṣām) — for those other than Śaṅkaraब्रह्मत्वम् (brahmatvam) — the state of Brahmanशङ्करस्य च (śaṅkarasya ca) — and for Śaṅkaraवेदान्त-सार-संसिद्धम् (vedānta-sāra-saṃsiddham) — established by the essence of Vedāntaप्रणव-अर्थे (praṇava-arthe) — in the meaning of Omप्रकाशनात् (prakāśanāt) — by its being revealed

१६ एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो मन्दरे नन्दिकेश्वरः । सनत्कुमारमुनिना ब्रह्मपुत्रेण धीमता ॥

evameva purā pṛṣṭo mandare nandikeśvaraḥ | sanatkumāramuninā brahmaputreṇa dhīmatā ||

· हिन्दी

इसी प्रकार पूर्वकाल में मन्दराचल पर नन्दिकेश्वर से बुद्धिमान ब्रह्मपुत्र सनत्कुमार मुनि ने प्रश्न किया था।

Just so, long ago on Mount Mandara, Nandikeśvara was asked by the sage Sanatkumāra, the wise son of Brahmā.

Word by word

एवम् एव (evam eva) — in just this wayपुरा (purā) — long agoपृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) — was askedमन्दरे (mandare) — on Mount Mandaraनन्दिकेश्वरः (nandikeśvaraḥ) — Nandikeśvaraसनत्कुमार-मुनिना (sanatkumāra-muninā) — by the sage Sanatkumāraब्रह्म-पुत्रेण (brahma-putreṇa) — son of Brahmāधीमता (dhīmatā) — the wise

सनत्कुमार उवाच — Sanatkumāra spoke: सनत्कुमार ने कहा:

१७ शिवान्यदेववश्यानां सर्वेषामपि सर्वतः ॥

śivānyadevavaśyānāṃ sarveṣāmapi sarvataḥ ||

· हिन्दी

शिव से भिन्न, सर्वत्र उनके अधीन रहने वाले जो अन्य देवता हैं, उन सबकी —

Of all the gods other than Śiva, everywhere subject to him —

Word by word

शिव-अन्य-देव-वश्यानाम् (śiva-anya-deva-vaśyānām) — of those given over to gods other than Śivaसर्वेषाम् अपि (sarveṣām api) — of all of themसर्वतः (sarvataḥ) — everywhere

१८ वेरमात्रं च पूजार्थं श्रुतं दृष्टं च भूरिशः । शिवमात्रस्य पूजायां लिङ्गं वेरं च दृष्यते । अतस्तद् ब्रूहि कल्याण तत्त्वं मे साधुबोधनम् ॥

veramātraṃ ca pūjārthaṃ śrutaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ ca bhūriśaḥ | śivamātrasya pūjāyāṃ liṅgaṃ veraṃ ca dṛṣyate | atastad brūhi kalyāṇa tattvaṃ me sādhubodhanam ||

· हिन्दी

— पूजा के लिए प्रायः मूर्ति-मात्र ही सुनी और देखी जाती है; जबकि शिव की ही पूजा में लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों दिखते हैं। इसलिए, हे कल्याण, वह तत्त्व मुझे भली-भाँति समझाकर कहिए।

— for their worship, mostly, only the image is heard of and seen; but in the worship of Śiva alone, both liṅga and image are seen. So tell me that principle, blessed one, so that I understand it well.

Word by word

वेर-मात्रम् (vera-mātram) — an image onlyच पूजा-अर्थम् (ca pūjā-artham) — for worshipश्रुतम् (śrutam) — is heard ofदृष्टम् च (dṛṣṭam ca) — and seenभूरिशः (bhūriśaḥ) — abundantlyशिव-मात्रस्य (śiva-mātrasya) — of Śiva aloneपूजायाम् (pūjāyām) — in the worshipलिङ्गम् (liṅgam) — the liṅgaवेरम् च (veram ca) — and the imageदृश्यते (dṛśyate) — are seenअतः (ataḥ) — thereforeतत् ब्रूहि (tat brūhi) — tell me thatकल्याण (kalyāṇa) — O auspicious oneतत्त्वम् (tattvam) — the truth of itमे (me) — to meसाधु-बोधनम् (sādhu-bodhanam) — for my true understanding

नन्दिकेश्वर उवाच — Nandikeśvara spoke: नन्दिकेश्वर ने कहा:

१९ अनुत्तरमिमं प्रश्नं रहस्यं ब्रह्मलक्षणम् ॥

anuttaramimaṃ praśnaṃ rahasyaṃ brahmalakṣaṇam ||

· हिन्दी

यह प्रश्न अनुत्तरणीय, रहस्यमय, ब्रह्म का लक्षण है —

This is a question hard to answer, secret, marked by Brahman —

Word by word

अनुत्तरम् (anuttaram) — to which there is no betterइमम् प्रश्नम् (imam praśnam) — this questionरहस्यम् (rahasyam) — a secretब्रह्म-लक्षणम् (brahma-lakṣaṇam) — defining Brahman

२० कथयामि शिवेनोक्तं भक्तियुक्तस्य तेऽनघ । शिवस्य ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलत्वाच्च निष्कलम् ॥

kathayāmi śivenoktaṃ bhaktiyuktasya te'nagha | śivasya brahmarūpatvānniṣkalatvācca niṣkalam ||

· हिन्दी

— फिर भी, हे निष्पाप, आप भक्तियुक्त हैं, इसलिए मैं शिव के कहे को बताता हूँ। शिव के ब्रह्मरूप और निष्कल होने के कारण निष्कल [लिंग उनका है] —

— yet, sinless one, since you are full of devotion, I will tell what Śiva said. Because Śiva is the form of Brahman and is formless, the formless [liṅga belongs to him] —

Word by word

कथयामि (kathayāmi) — I shall tellशिवेन उक्तम् (śivena uktam) — what was spoken by Śivaभक्ति-युक्तस्य (bhakti-yuktasya) — to you who are joined with devotionते (te) — to youअनघ (anagha) — O sinless oneशिवस्य (śivasya) — of Śivaब्रह्म-रूपत्वात् (brahma-rūpatvāt) — because his form is Brahmanनिष्कलत्वात् च (niṣkalatvāt ca) — and because he is without partsनिष्कलम् (niṣkalam) — partless

२१ लिङ्गं तस्यैव पूजायां सर्ववेदेषु सम्मतम् । तस्यैव सकलत्वाच्च तथा सकलनिष्कलम् ॥

liṅgaṃ tasyaiva pūjāyāṃ sarvavedeṣu sammatam | tasyaiva sakalatvācca tathā sakalaniṣkalam ||

· हिन्दी

— लिंग उन्हीं की पूजा के लिए सभी वेदों में सम्मत है; और उनके सकल होने के कारण भी वे सकल-निष्कल दोनों हैं।

— the liṅga, for his worship alone, is approved in all the Vedas; and because he is also embodied, he is likewise both embodied and formless.

Word by word

लिङ्गम् (liṅgam) — the liṅgaतस्य एव (tasya eva) — of him aloneपूजायाम् (pūjāyām) — in worshipसर्व-वेदेषु (sarva-vedeṣu) — in all the Vedasसम्मतम् (sammatam) — is approvedतस्य एव (tasya eva) — of him aloneसकलत्वात् च (sakalatvāt ca) — and because he has partsतथा (tathā) — likewiseसकल-निष्कलम् (sakala-niṣkalam) — both with parts and without

२२ सकलं च तथा वेरं पूजायां लोकसम्मतम् । शिवान्येषां च जीवत्वात् सकलत्वाच्च सर्वतः ॥

sakalaṃ ca tathā veraṃ pūjāyāṃ lokasammatam | śivānyeṣāṃ ca jīvatvāt sakalatvācca sarvataḥ ||

· हिन्दी

और सकल मूर्ति भी पूजा के लिए लोक में सम्मत है। पर शिव से भिन्न देवताओं के, जीव होने और सर्वथा सकल होने के कारण —

And the embodied image likewise, for worship, is approved among people. But for the gods other than Śiva, being souls and only embodied in every way —

Word by word

सकलम् (sakalam) — with partsच तथा (ca tathā) — and likewiseवेरम् (veram) — the imageपूजायाम् (pūjāyām) — in worshipलोक-सम्मतम् (loka-sammatam) — approved by the worldशिव-अन्येषाम् च (śiva-anyeṣām ca) — and for those other than Śivaजीवत्वात् (jīvatvāt) — being individual soulsसकलत्वात् च (sakalatvāt ca) — and having partsसर्वतः (sarvataḥ) — in every case

२३ वेरमात्रं च पूजायां सम्मतं वेदनिर्णये । स्वाविर्भावे च देवानां सकलं रूपमेव हि । शिवस्य लिङ्गं वेरं च दर्शने दृश्यते खलु ॥

veramātraṃ ca pūjāyāṃ sammataṃ vedanirṇaye | svāvirbhāve ca devānāṃ sakalaṃ rūpameva hi | śivasya liṅgaṃ veraṃ ca darśane dṛśyate khalu ||

· हिन्दी

— पूजा में मूर्ति-मात्र ही वेद के निर्णय में सम्मत है; और देवताओं के अपने आविर्भाव में सकल रूप ही होता है। शिव का लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों दर्शन में दिखाई देते हैं।

— only the image is approved for worship, by the Veda's decision; and at their own manifestation, the gods' form is embodied alone. Śiva's liṅga and image are both indeed seen in the [scriptural] view.

Word by word

वेर-मात्रम् (vera-mātram) — an image onlyच पूजायाम् (ca pūjāyām) — in worshipसम्मतम् (sammatam) — is approvedवेद-निर्णये (veda-nirṇaye) — in the settled teaching of the Vedaस्व-आविर्भावे (sva-āvirbhāve) — in their own manifestationच देवानाम् (ca devānām) — of the godsसकलम् रूपम् एव हि (sakalam rūpam eva hi) — it is a form with parts aloneशिवस्य (śivasya) — of Śivaलिङ्गम् वेरम् च (liṅgam veram ca) — both liṅga and imageदर्शने (darśane) — in his showing of himselfदृश्यते (dṛśyate) — are seenखलु (khalu) — indeed

सनत्कुमार उवाच — Sanatkumāra spoke: सनत्कुमार ने कहा:

२४ उक्तं त्वया महाभाग लिङ्गवेरप्रचारणम् ॥

uktaṃ tvayā mahābhāga liṅgaverapracāraṇam ||

· हिन्दी

हे महाभाग, आपने लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों के प्रचलन को बता दिया —

You have told, O greatly blessed one, how the liṅga and the image both came into currency —

Word by word

उक्तम् (uktam) — has been toldत्वया (tvayā) — by youमहा-भाग (mahā-bhāga) — O greatly blessed oneलिङ्ग-वेर-प्रचारणम् (liṅga-vera-pracāraṇam) — the currency of liṅga and image

२५ शिवस्य च तदन्येषां विभज्य परमार्थतः । तस्मात्तदेव परं लिङ्गं वेरादिसम्भवम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामि योगीन्द्र लिङ्गाविर्भावलक्षणम् ॥

śivasya ca tadanyeṣāṃ vibhajya paramārthataḥ | tasmāttadeva paraṃ liṅgaṃ verādisambhavam | śrotumicchāmi yogīndra liṅgāvirbhāvalakṣaṇam ||

· हिन्दी

— शिव का और शेष का, यथार्थ रूप से विभाजित करके। इसलिए वही परम लिंग, जिससे मूर्ति आदि की उत्पत्ति हुई — हे योगीन्द्र, लिंग के आविर्भाव का लक्षण मैं सुनना चाहता हूँ।

— dividing, in true meaning, what belongs to Śiva from what belongs to the others. So that very supreme liṅga, from which image and the rest have arisen — I wish to hear, lord of yogis, the mark of the liṅga's own manifestation.

Word by word

शिवस्य (śivasya) — of Śivaच तत्-अन्येषाम् (ca tat-anyeṣām) — and of those other than himविभज्य (vibhajya) — having distinguishedपरम-अर्थतः (parama-arthataḥ) — in truthतस्मात् (tasmāt) — thereforeतत् एव (tat eva) — that veryपरम् लिङ्गम् (param liṅgam) — supreme liṅgaवेर-आदि-सम्भवम् (vera-ādi-sambhavam) — the source of image and the restश्रोतुम् इच्छामि (śrotum icchāmi) — I wish to hearयोगि-इन्द्र (yogi-indra) — O lord of yogisलिङ्ग-आविर्भाव-लक्षणम् (liṅga-āvirbhāva-lakṣaṇam) — the account of the liṅga’s appearing

नन्दिकेश्वर उवाच — Nandikeśvara spoke: नन्दिकेश्वर ने कहा:

२६ शृणु वत्स भवत्प्रीत्या वक्ष्यामि परमार्थतः ॥

śṛṇu vatsa bhavatprītyā vakṣyāmi paramārthataḥ ||

· हिन्दी

सुनो, हे वत्स; तुम्हारे प्रति प्रेम से मैं यथार्थ रूप से कहता हूँ —

Listen, child; out of love for you I shall tell it in its true meaning —

Word by word

शृणु (śṛṇu) — listenवत्स (vatsa) — my childभवत्-प्रीत्या (bhavat-prītyā) — out of love for youवक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) — I shall tellपरम-अर्थतः (parama-arthataḥ) — as it truly is

२७ पुरा कल्पे महाकाले प्रपन्ने लोकविश्रुते । अयुध्येतां महात्मानौ ब्रह्मविष्णू परस्परम् ॥

purā kalpe mahākāle prapanne lokaviśrute | ayudhyetāṃ mahātmānau brahmaviṣṇū parasparam ||

· हिन्दी

— पूर्वकाल में, महाकाल के, लोकविख्यात कल्प के आने पर, महात्मा ब्रह्मा और विष्णु परस्पर युद्ध करने लगे।

— long ago, in a great, world-renowned age of a kalpa that had come, the two great souls Brahmā and Viṣṇu fought with one another.

Word by word

पुरा (purā) — long agoकल्पे (kalpe) — in a kalpaमहा-काले (mahā-kāle) — at the great timeप्रपन्ने (prapanne) — when it had comeलोक-विश्रुते (loka-viśrute) — famed through the worldsअयुध्येताम् (ayudhyetām) — the two foughtमहात्मानौ (mahātmānau) — the two great onesब्रह्म-विष्णू (brahma-viṣṇū) — Brahmā and Viṣṇuपरस्परम् (parasparam) — with each other

२८ तयोर्मानं निराकर्तुं तन्मध्ये परमेश्वरः । निष्कलस्तम्भरूपेण स्वरूपं समदर्शयत् ॥

tayormānaṃ nirākartuṃ tanmadhye parameśvaraḥ | niṣkalastambharūpeṇa svarūpaṃ samadarśayat ||

2
· हिन्दी

उन दोनों के अभिमान को दूर करने के लिए परमेश्वर ने उनके बीच निष्कल स्तम्भ के रूप में अपना स्वरूप दिखाया।

To put down the pride of both, the supreme Lord showed his own form between them, in the shape of a formless pillar.

Word by word

तयोः (tayoḥ) — of those twoमानम् (mānam) — the prideनिराकर्तुम् (nirākartum) — to put downतत्-मध्ये (tat-madhye) — between themपरमेश्वरः (parameśvaraḥ) — the supreme Lordनिष्कल-स्तम्भ-रूपेण (niṣkala-stambha-rūpeṇa) — in the form of a partless pillarस्व-रूपम् (sva-rūpam) — his own natureसमदर्शयत् (samadarśayat) — showed forth

२९ ततः स्वलिङ्गचिह्नत्वात् स्तम्भतो निष्कलं शिवः । स्वलिङ्गं दर्शयामास जगतां हितकाम्यया ॥

tataḥ svaliṅgacihnatvāt stambhato niṣkalaṃ śivaḥ | svaliṅgaṃ darśayāmāsa jagatāṃ hitakāmyayā ||

2
· हिन्दी

तब उस स्तम्भ के अपने लिंग का चिह्न होने के कारण, शिव ने उस निष्कल स्तम्भ से अपना लिंग दिखाया, जगत् के हित की कामना से।

Then, since the pillar was the sign of his own liṅga, Śiva, from that formless pillar, showed his own liṅga, desiring the good of the worlds.

Word by word

ततः (tataḥ) — thenस्व-लिङ्ग-चिह्नत्वात् (sva-liṅga-cihnatvāt) — since it was the mark of his own signस्तम्भतः (stambhataḥ) — out of the pillarनिष्कलम् (niṣkalam) — partlessशिवः (śivaḥ) — Śivaस्व-लिङ्गम् (sva-liṅgam) — his own liṅgaदर्शयामास (darśayāmāsa) — revealedजगताम् (jagatām) — of the worldsहित-काम्यया (hita-kāmyayā) — out of a wish for their good

३० तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु निष्कलं लिङ्गमैश्वरम् । सकलं च तथा वेरं शिवस्यैव प्रकल्पितम् ॥

tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu niṣkalaṃ liṅgamaiśvaram | sakalaṃ ca tathā veraṃ śivasyaiva prakalpitam ||

· हिन्दी

उसी समय से लोगों में शिव का निष्कल लिंग, और वैसे ही सकल मूर्ति, उन्हीं के लिए विहित हुए।

From that time on, among people, the formless liṅga of the Lord, and likewise the embodied image, have been ordained for Śiva alone.

Word by word

तदा-प्रभृति (tadā-prabhṛti) — from that time onलोकेषु (lokeṣu) — in the worldsनिष्कलम् (niṣkalam) — partlessलिङ्गम् (liṅgam) — the liṅgaऐश्वरम् (aiśvaram) — of the Lordसकलम् च (sakalam ca) — and with partsतथा (tathā) — likewiseवेरम् (veram) — the imageशिवस्य एव (śivasya eva) — of Śiva aloneप्रकल्पितम् (prakalpitam) — was ordained

३१ शिवान्येषां तु देवानां वेरमात्रं प्रकल्पितम् । तत्तद् वेरं तु देवानां तत्तद्भोगप्रदं शुभम् । शिवस्य लिङ्गवेरत्वं भोगमोक्षप्रदं शुभम् ॥

śivānyeṣāṃ tu devānāṃ veramātraṃ prakalpitam | tattad veraṃ tu devānāṃ tattadbhogapradaṃ śubham | śivasya liṅgaveratvaṃ bhogamokṣapradaṃ śubham ||

· हिन्दी

शिव से भिन्न अन्य देवताओं के लिए मूर्ति-मात्र ही विहित है; और देवताओं की वह-वह मूर्ति वह-वह शुभ भोग देने वाली है। पर शिव का लिंग और मूर्ति दोनों रूप में होना शुभ भोग और मोक्ष दोनों देने वाला है।

For the gods other than Śiva, only the image has been ordained; and each such image of each such god gives its own auspicious enjoyment. But Śiva's being both liṅga and image gives, auspiciously, both enjoyment and release.

Word by word

शिव-अन्येषाम् तु (śiva-anyeṣām tu) — but for those other than Śivaदेवानाम् (devānām) — of the godsवेर-मात्रम् (vera-mātram) — an image onlyप्रकल्पितम् (prakalpitam) — was ordainedतत् तत् वेरम् (tat tat veram) — each such imageतु देवानाम् (tu devānām) — of the godsतत्-तत्-भोग-प्रदम् (tat-tat-bhoga-pradam) — gives its own particular enjoymentशुभम् (śubham) — auspiciousशिवस्य (śivasya) — of Śivaलिङ्ग-वेरत्वम् (liṅga-veratvam) — being both liṅga and imageभोग-मोक्ष-प्रदम् (bhoga-mokṣa-pradam) — gives both enjoyment and releaseशुभम् (śubham) — auspicious

❁ ❁ ❁

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे प्रथमायां विद्येश्वरसंहितायां शिवलिङ्गमहिमवर्णनं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः ॥ ५ ॥

Here ends the fifth chapter — “The Account of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga” — in the first Saṃhitā, that of Vidyeśvara, of the venerable Śiva Mahāpurāṇa.

इस प्रकार श्रीशिव महापुराण की प्रथम विद्येश्वर संहिता में “शिवलिंग की महिमा का वर्णन” नामक पाँचवाँ अध्याय समाप्त हुआ।