Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अथ पाशुपतं साक्षाद्व्रतं द्वादशमासिकम् कारयित्वा मुनिस्तस्मै प्रददौ ज्ञानमुत्तमम्

Then, having made him undertake the twelve-month Pāśupata vow directly, the sage bestowed upon him the highest knowledge.

तदाप्रभृति तं कृष्णं मुनयश्शंसितव्रताः दिव्याः पाशुपताः सर्वे परिवृत्योपतस्थिरे

From that time onward, all the divine Pāśupatas, the sages devoted to vows, gathered around Kṛṣṇa and attended upon him.

ततो गुरुनियोगाद्वै कृष्णः परमशक्तिमान् तपश्चकार पुत्रार्थं सांबमुद्दिश्य शंकरम्

Then, by the command of his guru, Kṛṣṇa, possessing supreme power, performed austerity for the sake of a son, aiming at Śaṃbhu.

तपसो तेन वर्षांते दृष्टो ऽसौ परमेश्वरः श्रिया परमया युक्तस्सांबश्च सगणश्शिवः

At the end of his austerity, the supreme lord appeared, endowed with supreme splendor, and Śiva was there with Sāṃba and his attendants.

वरार्थमाविर्भूतस्य हरस्य सुभगाकृतेः स्तुतिं चकार नत्वासौ कृष्णः सम्यक्कृतांजलिः

For the sake of the boon, Kṛṣṇa, hands joined in reverence, offered praise to Hari, who had manifested in a beautiful form.

सांबं समगणव्यग्रो लब्धवान्पुत्रमात्मनः तपसा तुष्टचित्तेन दत्तं विष्णोश्शिवेन वै

Absorbed with his attendants, he obtained Sāṃba as his son; with a mind pleased by austerity, Śiva granted him to Viṣṇu.

यस्मात्सांबो महादेवः प्रददौ पुत्रमात्मनः तस्माज्जांबवतीसूनुं सांबं चक्रे स नामतः

Because Mahādeva gave Sāṃba as his own son, he named him Sāṃba, the son of Jāṃbavatī.

तदेतत्कथितं सर्वं कृष्णस्यामितकर्मणः महर्षेर्ज्ञानलाभश्च पुत्रलाभश्च शंकरात्

Thus, everything has been told concerning Kṛṣṇa of boundless deeds: the sage's attainment of knowledge and the gaining of a son from Śaṃkara.

य इदं कीर्तयेन्नित्यं शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेत्तथा स विष्णोर्ज्ञानमासाद्य तेनैव सह मोदते

Whoever recites, hears, or causes this to be heard daily, attains Viṣṇu's knowledge and rejoices together with him.

किं तत्पाशुपतं ज्ञानं कथं पशुपतिश्शिवः कथं धौम्याग्रजः पृष्टः कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा

What is that Pashupata knowledge? How is Shiva the Lord of creatures? How was Dhaumya's elder questioned by Krishna, whose actions are untainted?

एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व वायो शंकरविग्रह तत्समो न हि वक्तास्ति त्रैलोक्येष्वपरः प्रभुः

O Vayu, tell us all this—about Shankara's form. For there is no one equal to you in speech, nor any other master in the three worlds.

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां महर्षीणां प्रभंजनः संस्मृत्य शिवमीशानं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे

Hearing their words, Prabhanjana, the great sage, recalled Shiva, the Lord, and began to speak.

पुरा साक्षान्महेशेन श्रीकंठाख्येन मन्दरे देव्यै देवेन कथितं ज्ञानं पाशुपतं परम्

Long ago, the supreme Pashupata knowledge was directly taught by Mahesha, known as Shrikantha, on Mandara to the goddess by the god.

तदेव पृष्टं कृष्णेन विष्णुना विश्वयोनिना पशुत्वं च सुरादीनां पतित्वं च शिवस्य च

That same knowledge was asked by Krishna, Vishnu, the source of the universe—about the creaturehood of the gods and others, and the lordship of Shiva.

यथोपदिष्टं कृष्णाय मुनिना ह्युपमन्युना तथा समासतो वक्ष्ये तच्छृणुध्वमतंद्रिताः

As it was instructed to Krishna by the sage Upamanyu, so I will briefly declare it. Listen attentively.

पुरोपमन्युमासीनं विष्णुःकृष्णवपुर्धरः प्रणिपत्य यथान्यायमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Previously, Vishnu, bearing the form of Krishna, approached Upamanyu seated, and respectfully spoke these words in proper manner.

भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि देव्यै देवेन भाषितम् दिव्यं पाशुपतं ज्ञानं विभूतिं वास्य कृत्स्नशः

O revered one, I wish to hear the divine Pashupata knowledge spoken by the god to the goddess, and his entire glory.

कथं पशुपतिर्देवः पशवः के प्रकीर्तिताः कैः पाशैस्ते निबध्यंते विमुच्यंते च ते कथम्

How is the god Pashupati the lord of creatures? Who are called creatures? By what bonds are they bound and released, and how?

इति संचोदितः श्रीमानुपमन्युर्महात्मना प्रणम्य देवं देवीं च प्राह पुष्टो यथा तथा

Thus prompted by the great-souled Upamanyu, the illustrious sage, after bowing to the god and goddess, spoke as he was asked.

ब्रह्माद्याः स्थावरांताश्च देवदेवस्य शूलिनः पशवः परिकीर्त्यंते संसारवशवर्तिनः

From Brahma onward, down to immobile beings, all are called creatures of the god of gods, the wielder of the trident, subject to the power of worldly existence.

तेषां पतित्वाद्देवेशः शिवः पशुपतिः स्मृतः मलमायादिभिः पाशैः स बध्नाति पशून्पतिः

Because of his lordship over them, Shiva is remembered as Pashupati. With bonds such as impurity and illusion, the Lord binds the creatures.

स एव मोचकस्तेषां भक्त्या सम्यगुपासितः चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वानि मायाकर्मगुणा अमी

He alone is their liberator, when properly worshipped with devotion. The twenty-four principles—maya, karma, and the qualities—are these.

विषया इति कथ्यन्ते पाशा जीवनिबन्धनाः ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यंतान् पशून्बद्ध्वा महेश्वरः

These are called the objects, the bonds of life. Maheshvara binds creatures from Brahma down to grass with these.

पाशैरेतैः पतिर्देवः कार्यं कारयति स्वकम् तस्याज्ञया महेशस्य प्रकृतिः पुरुषोचिताम्

With these bonds, the Lord compels each to perform their own actions. By the command of Mahesha, nature produces what is proper for the person.

बुद्धिं प्रसूते सा बुद्धिरहंकारमहंकृतिः इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च तन्मात्रापञ्चकं तथा

She produces intellect; that intellect gives rise to ego, and ego to the senses—ten plus one—and likewise the five subtle elements.

शासनाद्देवदेवस्य शिवस्य शिवदायिनः तन्मात्राण्यपि तस्यैव शासनेन महीयसा

By the command of the god of gods, Shiva, the bestower of auspiciousness, even the subtle elements are produced by his great command.

महाभूतान्यशेषाणि भावयंत्यनुपूर्वशः ब्रह्मादीनां तृणान्तानां देहिनां देहसंगतिम्

All the great elements are generated successively, forming the bodies of embodied beings, from Brahma to the smallest blade of grass.

महाभूतान्यशेषाणि जनयंति शिवाज्ञया अध्यवस्यति वै बुद्धिरहंकारोभिमन्यते

The great elements, without exception, are generated by Shiva’s command; intellect comprehends, and ego claims ownership.

चित्तं चेतयते चापि मनः संकल्पयत्यपि श्रोत्रादीनि च गृह्णन्ति शब्दादीन्विषयान् पृथक्

The mind perceives, and also forms intentions; the senses such as hearing grasp their respective objects, like sound and so forth, each separately.