Shiva Purana — Vidyeshvara Samhita — Chapter 4
SiP 1 4.1
इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे विद्येश्वरसंहितायां साध्यसाधनखण्डे तृतीयो ऽध्यायः छप्तेर् ४ मुनय ऊचुः मननं कीदृशं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रवणं चापि कीदृशम् कीर्तनं वा कथं तस्य कीर्तयैतद्यथायथम्
iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe vidyeśvarasaṃhitāyāṃ sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍe tṛtīyo 'dhyāyaḥ chapter 4 munaya ūcuḥ mananaṃ kīdṛśaṃ brahmañchravaṇaṃ cāpi kīdṛśam kīrtanaṃ vā kathaṃ tasya kīrtayaitadyathāyatham
Thus the third chapter in the section on the goal and the means, in the Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā of the glorious Śiva-mahāpurāṇa. — The sages said: Of what sort is reflection, O Brahman, and of what sort is hearing? And how is the praising of him? Tell us this as it truly is.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.2
ब्रह्मोवच पूजाजपेशगुणरूपविलासनाम्नां युक्तिप्रियेण मनसा परिशोधनं यत् तत्संततं मननमीश्वरदृष्टिलभ्यं सर्वेषु साधनवरेष्वपि मुख्यमुख्यम्
brahmovaca pūjājapeśaguṇarūpavilāsanāmnāṃ yuktipriyeṇa manasā pariśodhanaṃ yat tatsaṃtataṃ mananamīśvaradṛṣṭilabhyaṃ sarveṣu sādhanavareṣvapi mukhyamukhyam
Brahmā said: That constant purification, by a mind fond of reasoning, of (one's) worship, muttered prayer, and the Lord's qualities, form, sports and names — that is reflection, obtainable through the Lord's glance, and among all the best means the very foremost.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.3
गीतात्मना श्रुतिपदेन च भाषया वा शंभुप्रतापगुणरूपविलासनाम्नाम् वाचा स्फुटं तु रसवत्स्तवनं यदस्य तत्कीर्तनं भवति सा धनमत्र मध्यम्
gītātmanā śrutipadena ca bhāṣayā vā śaṃbhupratāpaguṇarūpavilāsanāmnām vācā sphuṭaṃ tu rasavatstavanaṃ yadasya tatkīrtanaṃ bhavati sā dhanamatra madhyam
That savory praising of him which is uttered clearly with the voice — in the form of song, or in the words of scripture, or in the vernacular — of Śambhu's might, qualities, form, sports and names: that is 'kīrtana'; it is the middling means here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.4
येनापि केन करणेन च शब्दपुंजं यत्र क्वचिच्छिवपरं श्रवणेंद्रियेण स्त्रीकेलिवद्दृढतरं प्रणिधीयते यत्तद्वै बुधाः श्रवणमत्र जगत्प्रसिद्धम्
yenāpi kena karaṇena ca śabdapuṃjaṃ yatra kvacicchivaparaṃ śravaṇeṃdriyeṇa strīkelivaddṛḍhataraṃ praṇidhīyate yattadvai budhāḥ śravaṇamatra jagatprasiddham
When, by whatever instrument, a mass of words concerning Śiva, anywhere at all, is attended to with the ear very firmly, as (one attends) to love-play with a woman — that, O wise ones, is 'hearing' here, famed in the world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.5
सत्संगमेन भवति श्रवणं पुरस्तात्संकीर्तनं पशुपतेरथ तद्दृढं स्यात् सर्वोत्तमं भवति तन्मननं तदंते सर्वं हि संभवति शंकरदृष्टिपाते
satsaṃgamena bhavati śravaṇaṃ purastātsaṃkīrtanaṃ paśupateratha taddṛḍhaṃ syāt sarvottamaṃ bhavati tanmananaṃ tadaṃte sarvaṃ hi saṃbhavati śaṃkaradṛṣṭipāte
By association with the good, hearing comes about first; then the praising of Paśupati, and that becomes firm; then reflection on him arises, best of all; for at the end of that, everything comes to pass when Śaṃkara's glance falls (on one).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.6
सूत उवाच अस्मिन्साधनमाहत्म्ये पुरा वृत्तं मुनीश्वराः युष्मदर्थं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वमवधानतः
sūta uvāca asminsādhanamāhatmye purā vṛttaṃ munīśvarāḥ yuṣmadarthaṃ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvamavadhānataḥ
Sūta said: Concerning the greatness of this means, O lords of sages, I shall relate for your sake what happened long ago; listen attentively.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.7
पुरा मम गुरुर्व्यासः पराशरमुनेः सुतः तपश्चचार संभ्रांतः सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे
purā mama gururvyāsaḥ parāśaramuneḥ sutaḥ tapaścacāra saṃbhrāṃtaḥ sarasvatyāstaṭe śubhe
Formerly my teacher Vyāsa, son of the sage Parāśara, performed austerity, perplexed, on the auspicious bank of the Sarasvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.8
गच्छन्यदृछया तत्र विमानेनार्करोचिषा सनत्कुमारो भगवान्ददर्श मम देशिकम्
gacchanyadṛchayā tatra vimānenārkarociṣā sanatkumāro bhagavāndadarśa mama deśikam
Passing by there by chance in a chariot with the radiance of the sun, the lord Sanatkumāra saw my teacher.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.9
ध्यानारूढः प्रबुद्धो ऽसौ ददर्श तमजात्मजम् प्रणिपत्याह संभ्रांतः परं कौतूहलं मुनिः
dhyānārūḍhaḥ prabuddho 'sau dadarśa tamajātmajam praṇipatyāha saṃbhrāṃtaḥ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ muniḥ
He (Vyāsa), engaged in meditation, awakened, saw him, the son of the Unborn (Brahmā); and bowing down, the sage, agitated, spoke with the greatest curiosity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.10
दत्त्वार्घ्यमस्मै प्रददौ देवयोग्यं च विष्टिरम् प्रसन्नः प्राह तं प्रह्वं प्रभुर्गंभीरया गिरा
dattvārghyamasmai pradadau devayogyaṃ ca viṣṭiram prasannaḥ prāha taṃ prahvaṃ prabhurgaṃbhīrayā girā
Having given him the water-offering, he also offered a seat fit for a god; pleased, the lord spoke to him, who stood bowed, with a deep voice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.11
सनत्कुमार उवाच सत्यं वस्तु मुने दध्याः साक्षात्करणगोचरः स शिवोथासहायोत्र तपश्चरसि किं कृते
sanatkumāra uvāca satyaṃ vastu mune dadhyāḥ sākṣātkaraṇagocaraḥ sa śivothāsahāyotra tapaścarasi kiṃ kṛte
Sanatkumāra said: You should consider, O sage, the true reality, which comes within the range of direct perception: that Śiva; so, unaided, for what purpose do you practice austerity here?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SiP 1 4.12
एवमुक्तः कुमारेण प्रोवाच स्वाशयं मुनिः धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाश्च वेदमार्गे कृतादराः
evamuktaḥ kumāreṇa provāca svāśayaṃ muniḥ dharmārthakāmamokṣāśca vedamārge kṛtādarāḥ
Thus addressed by Kumāra, the sage told his own intent: "Dharma, wealth, pleasure and liberation, honored on the path of the Veda,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.13
बहुधा स्थापिता लोके मया त्वत्कृपया तथा एवं भुतस्य मेप्येवं गुरुभूतस्य सर्वतः
bahudhā sthāpitā loke mayā tvatkṛpayā tathā evaṃ bhutasya mepyevaṃ gurubhūtasya sarvataḥ
have been established by me in the world in many ways, by your grace. Yet for me, being such, and being a teacher in every respect,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.14
मुक्तिसाधनकं ज्ञानं नोदेति परमाद्भुतम् तपश्चरामि मुक्त्यर्थं न जाने तत्र कारणम्
muktisādhanakaṃ jñānaṃ nodeti paramādbhutam tapaścarāmi muktyarthaṃ na jāne tatra kāraṇam
the supremely wondrous knowledge that is the means to liberation does not arise. I practice austerity for the sake of liberation; I do not know the cause of that."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.15
इत्थं कुमारो भगवान् व्यासेन मुनिनार्थितः समर्थः प्राह विप्रेंद्रा निश्चयं मुक्तिकारणम्
itthaṃ kumāro bhagavān vyāsena muninārthitaḥ samarthaḥ prāha vipreṃdrā niścayaṃ muktikāraṇam
Thus entreated by the sage Vyāsa, the capable lord Kumāra declared, O best of brahmins, the certain cause of liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.16
श्रवणं कीर्तनं शंभोर्मननं च महत्तरम् त्रयं साधनमुक्तं च विद्यते वेदसंमतम्
śravaṇaṃ kīrtanaṃ śaṃbhormananaṃ ca mahattaram trayaṃ sādhanamuktaṃ ca vidyate vedasaṃmatam
Hearing, praising, and — greater still — reflection upon Śambhu: this triad is declared to be the means, and it is approved by the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.17
पुराहमथ संभ्रांतो ह्यन्यसाधनसंभ्रमः अचले मंदरे शैले तपश्चरणमाचरम्
purāhamatha saṃbhrāṃto hyanyasādhanasaṃbhramaḥ acale maṃdare śaile tapaścaraṇamācaram
"Formerly I too was perplexed, confused about other means, and practiced austerity on the immovable mountain Mandara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.18
शिवाज्ञया ततः प्राप्तो भगवान्नन्दिकेश्वरः स मे दयालुर्भगवान्सर्वसाक्षी गणेश्वरः
śivājñayā tataḥ prāpto bhagavānnandikeśvaraḥ sa me dayālurbhagavānsarvasākṣī gaṇeśvaraḥ
Then by Śiva's command the lord Nandikeśvara arrived; that compassionate lord, witness of all, lord of the hosts,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.19
उवाच मह्यं सस्नेहं मुक्तिसाधनमुत्तमम् श्रवणं कीर्तनं शंभोर्मननं वेदसंमतम्
uvāca mahyaṃ sasnehaṃ muktisādhanamuttamam śravaṇaṃ kīrtanaṃ śaṃbhormananaṃ vedasaṃmatam
He spoke to me affectionately of the highest means to liberation: the hearing, the proclaiming, and the pondering of Śambhu, (all) approved by the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.20
त्रिकं च साधनं मुक्तौ शिवेन मम भाषितम् श्रवणादिं ब्रह्मन्कुरुष्वेति मुहुर्मुहुः
trikaṃ ca sādhanaṃ muktau śivena mama bhāṣitam śravaṇādiṃ brahmankuruṣveti muhurmuhuḥ
"And this triad is the means to liberation, told to me by Śiva. O brahmin, practise hearing and the rest," (he said) again and again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.21
एवमुक्त्वा ततो व्यासं सानुगो विधिनंदनः जगाम स्वविमानेन पदं परमशोभनम्
evamuktvā tato vyāsaṃ sānugo vidhinaṃdanaḥ jagāma svavimānena padaṃ paramaśobhanam
Having spoken thus to Vyāsa, the son of the Ordainer (Brahmā), with his attendants, went by his own aerial car to that supremely splendid abode.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.22
एवमुक्तं समासेन पूर्ववृत्तांतमुत्तमम् ऋषय ऊचुः श्रवणादित्रयं सूत मुक्त्योपायस्त्वयेरितः
evamuktaṃ samāsena pūrvavṛttāṃtamuttamam ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śravaṇāditrayaṃ sūta muktyopāyastvayeritaḥ
Thus the excellent former account was told in brief. The sages said: "O Sūta, the triad of hearing and the rest has been declared by you as the means to liberation."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 1 4.23
श्रवणादित्रिके ऽशक्तः किं कृत्वा मुच्यते जनः अयत्नेनैव मुक्तिः स्यात्कर्मणा केन हेतुना
śravaṇāditrike 'śaktaḥ kiṃ kṛtvā mucyate janaḥ ayatnenaiva muktiḥ syātkarmaṇā kena hetunā
"One who is incapable of the triad of hearing and the rest—by doing what is a person liberated? By what act, for what cause, would liberation come about even without effort?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition