The Origin of the Linga's Form

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.12.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत जानासि सकलं वस्तु व्यासप्रसादतः । तवाज्ञातं न विद्येत तस्मात्पृच्छामहे वयम् ॥ 12.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta jānāsi sakalaṁ vastu vyāsaprasādataḥ tavājñātaṁ na vidyeta tasmātpṛcchāmahe vayam

The sages said: O Suta, by Vyasa's grace you know all things; nothing is unknown to you — therefore we ask you.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.12.2)

लिङ्गं च पूज्यते लोके तत्त्वया कथितं च यत् । तत्तथैव न चान्यद्वा कारणं विद्यते त्विह ॥ 12.2 ॥

liṅgaṁ ca pūjyate loke tattvayā kathitaṁ ca yat tattathaiva na cānyadvā kāraṇaṁ vidyate tviha

That the linga is worshipped in the world has been told by you exactly as it is — but is there, here, no other reason for it as well?

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.12.3)

बाणरूपा श्रुता लोके पार्वती शिववल्लभा । एतत्किं कारणं सूत कथय त्वं यथाश्रुतम् ॥ 12.3 ॥

bāṇarūpā śrutā loke pārvatī śivavallabhā etatkiṁ kāraṇaṁ sūta kathaya tvaṁ yathāśrutam

Parvati, Shiva's beloved, is known in the world in the form of the "bana" stone; what is the reason for this, O Suta? Tell us as you have heard it.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.12.4)

सूत उवाच । कल्पभेदकथा चैव श्रुता व्यासान्मया द्विजाः । तामेव कथयाम्यद्य श्रूयतामृषिसत्तमाः ॥ 12.4 ॥

sūta uvāca kalpabhedakathā caiva śrutā vyāsānmayā dvijāḥ tāmeva kathayāmyadya śrūyatāmṛṣisattamāḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, I have heard from Vyasa a story belonging to another kalpa; that very story I shall now tell — listen, O best of sages.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.12.5)

पुरा दारुवने जातं यद् वृत्तं तु द्विजन्मनाम् । तदेव श्रूयतां सम्यक् कथयामि यथाश्रुतम् ॥ 12.5 ॥

purā dāruvane jātaṁ yad vṛttaṁ tu dvijanmanām tadeva śrūyatāṁ samyak kathayāmi yathāśrutam

That event which once occurred in the Daru forest, among the twice-born, hear now well; I shall tell it exactly as I have heard it.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.12.6)

दारुनाम वनं श्रेष्ठं तत्रासन् ऋषिसत्तमाः । शिवभक्ताः सदा नित्यं शिवध्यानपरायणाः ॥ 12.6 ॥

dārunāma vanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ tatrāsan ṛṣisattamāḥ śivabhaktāḥ sadā nityaṁ śivadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

There was an excellent forest named Daru; there dwelt eminent sages, ever devoted to Shiva, always intent on meditating upon him.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.12.7)

त्रिकालं शिवपूजां च कुर्वन्ति स्म निरन्तरम् । नानाविधैः स्तवैर्दिव्यैस्तुष्टुवुस्ते मुनीश्वराः ॥ 12.7 ॥

trikālaṁ śivapūjāṁ ca kurvanti sma nirantaram nānāvidhaiḥ stavairdivyaistuṣṭuvuste munīśvarāḥ

They performed Shiva's worship constantly, three times each day, and those lords of sages praised him with various divine hymns.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.12.8)

ते कदाचिद्वने याताः समिधाहरणाय च । सर्वे द्विजर्षभाः शैवाः शिवध्यानपरायणाः ॥ 12.8 ॥

te kadācidvane yātāḥ samidhāharaṇāya ca sarve dvijarṣabhāḥ śaivāḥ śivadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

Once, all those foremost brahmins, devotees of Shiva intent on meditating upon him, went into the forest to gather sacrificial firewood.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.12.9)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे साक्षाच्छङ्करो नीललोहितः । विरूपं च समास्थाय परीक्षार्थं समागतः ॥ 12.9 ॥

etasminnantare sākṣācchaṅkaro nīlalohitaḥ virūpaṁ ca samāsthāya parīkṣārthaṁ samāgataḥ

Meanwhile, Shankara himself, blue-throated and red-limbed, assuming a strange, disfigured form, came there to test them.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.12.10)

दिगम्बरोऽतितेजस्वी भूतिभूषणभूषितः । स चेष्टामकरोद्दुष्टां हस्ते लिङ्गं विधारयन् ॥ 12.10 ॥

digambaro’titejasvī bhūtibhūṣaṇabhūṣitaḥ sa ceṣṭāmakarodduṣṭāṁ haste liṅgaṁ vidhārayan

Naked, of exceeding splendour, adorned with ash as his ornament, holding a linga in his hand, he behaved in a wanton manner.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.12.11)

मनसा च प्रियं तेषां कर्तुं वै वनवासिनाम् । जगाम तद्वनं प्रीत्या भक्तप्रीतो हरः स्वयम् ॥ 12.11 ॥

manasā ca priyaṁ teṣāṁ kartuṁ vai vanavāsinām jagāma tadvanaṁ prītyā bhaktaprīto haraḥ svayam

Wishing, in his heart, to please those forest-dwellers, Hara himself, ever fond of his devotees, went to that forest with love.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.12.12)

तं दृष्ट्वा ऋषिपत्न्यस्ताः परं त्रासमुपागताः । विह्वला विस्मिताश्चान्याः समाजग्मुस्तथा पुनः ॥ 12.12 ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā ṛṣipatnyastāḥ paraṁ trāsamupāgatāḥ vihvalā vismitāścānyāḥ samājagmustathā punaḥ

Seeing him, those sages' wives were struck with great alarm; some, bewildered and astonished, gathered around him once more.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.12.13)

आलिलिङ्गुस्तथा चान्याः करं धृत्वा तथापराः । परस्परं तु सङ्घर्षात्सम्मग्नास्ताः स्त्रियस्तदा ॥ 12.13 ॥

āliliṅgustathā cānyāḥ karaṁ dhṛtvā tathāparāḥ parasparaṁ tu saṅgharṣātsammagnāstāḥ striyastadā

Some embraced him, others took hold of his hand; and in the ensuing jostling with one another those women became utterly absorbed.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.12.14)

एतस्मिन्नेव समये ऋषिवर्याः समागमन् । विरुद्धं तं च ते दृष्ट्वा दुःखिताः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः ॥ 12.14 ॥

etasminneva samaye ṛṣivaryāḥ samāgaman viruddhaṁ taṁ ca te dṛṣṭvā duḥkhitāḥ krodhamūrcchitāḥ

At that very moment the great sages returned, and seeing this improper scene, became distressed, overcome with rage.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.12.15)

तदा दुःखमनुप्राप्ताः कोऽयं कोऽयं तथाब्रुवन् । समस्ता ऋषयस्ते वै शिवमायाविमोहिताः ॥ 12.15 ॥

tadā duḥkhamanuprāptāḥ ko’yaṁ ko’yaṁ tathābruvan samastā ṛṣayaste vai śivamāyāvimohitāḥ

Then, overcome with distress, all those sages, deluded by Shiva's own Maya, exclaimed again and again, "Who is this? Who is this?"

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.12.16)

यदा च नोक्तवान् किञ्चित्सोऽवधूतो दिगम्बरः । ऊचुस्तं पुरुषं भीमं तदा ते परमर्षयः ॥ 12.16 ॥

yadā ca noktavān kiñcitso’vadhūto digambaraḥ ūcustaṁ puruṣaṁ bhīmaṁ tadā te paramarṣayaḥ

And when that naked mendicant said nothing at all, those supreme sages then addressed that fearsome figure.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.12.17)

त्वया विरुद्धं क्रियते वेदमार्गविलोपि यत् । ततस्त्वदीयं तल्लिङ्गं पततां पृथिवीतले ॥ 12.17 ॥

tvayā viruddhaṁ kriyate vedamārgavilopi yat tatastvadīyaṁ talliṅgaṁ patatāṁ pṛthivītale

"Since you do an improper thing, one that destroys the path of the Vedas, let that linga of yours therefore fall to the ground!"

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.12.18)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्ते तु तदा तैश्च लिङ्गं च पतितं क्षणात् । अवधूतस्य तस्याशु शिवस्याद्भुतरूपिणः ॥ 12.18 ॥

sūta uvāca ityukte tu tadā taiśca liṅgaṁ ca patitaṁ kṣaṇāt avadhūtasya tasyāśu śivasyādbhutarūpiṇaḥ

Suta said: When this was said by them, at that very moment the linga of that wondrous-formed avadhuta — Shiva himself — fell instantly to the ground.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.12.19)

तल्लिङ्गं चाग्निवत्सर्वं यद्ददाह पुरा स्थितम् । यत्र यत्र च तद्याति तत्र तत्र दहेत्पुनः ॥ 12.19 ॥

talliṅgaṁ cāgnivatsarvaṁ yaddadāha purā sthitam yatra yatra ca tadyāti tatra tatra dahetpunaḥ

That linga, like fire, burned up everything that stood before it; and wherever it went, there again it would burn.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.12.20)

पाताले च गतं तच्च स्वर्गे चापि तथैव च । भूमौ सर्वत्र तद्यातं न कुत्रापि स्थिरं हि तत् ॥ 12.20 ॥

pātāle ca gataṁ tacca svarge cāpi tathaiva ca bhūmau sarvatra tadyātaṁ na kutrāpi sthiraṁ hi tat

It went into the netherworld, and likewise into heaven too; it wandered everywhere on earth, and nowhere at all did it remain still.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.12.21)

लोकाश्च व्याकुला जाता ऋषयस्तेऽतिदुःखिताः । न शर्म लेभिरे केचिद्देवाश्च ऋषयस्तथा ॥ 12.21 ॥

lokāśca vyākulā jātā ṛṣayaste’tiduḥkhitāḥ na śarma lebhire keciddevāśca ṛṣayastathā

The worlds became agitated, those sages exceedingly distressed; neither the gods nor the sages could find any peace anywhere.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.12.22)

न ज्ञातस्तु शिवो यैस्तु ते सर्वे च सुरर्षयः । दुःखिता मिलिताः शीघ्रं ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः ॥ 12.22 ॥

na jñātastu śivo yaistu te sarve ca surarṣayaḥ duḥkhitā militāḥ śīghraṁ brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

All those gods and sages who had failed to recognize Shiva, distressed, quickly gathered together and went for refuge to Brahma.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.12.23)

तत्र गत्वा च ते सर्वे नत्वा स्तुत्वा विधिं द्विजाः । तत्सर्वमवदन् वृत्तं ब्रह्मणे सृष्टिकारिणे ॥ 12.23 ॥

tatra gatvā ca te sarve natvā stutvā vidhiṁ dvijāḥ tatsarvamavadan vṛttaṁ brahmaṇe sṛṣṭikāriṇe

O brahmins, going there, all of them bowed to Brahma and praised him, and related the entire event to Brahma, the creator.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.12.24)

ब्रह्मा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शिवमायाविमोहितान् । ज्ञात्वा तान् शङ्करं नत्वा प्रोवाच ऋषिसत्तमान् ॥ 12.24 ॥

brahmā tadvacanaṁ śrutvā śivamāyāvimohitān jñātvā tān śaṅkaraṁ natvā provāca ṛṣisattamān

Brahma, having heard their words, and recognizing that they had been deluded by Shiva's Maya, bowed to Shankara and then addressed those excellent sages.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.12.25)

ब्रह्मोवाच । ज्ञातारश्च भवन्तो वै कुर्वते गर्हितं द्विजाः । अज्ञातारो यदा कुर्युः किं पुनः कथ्यते पुनः ॥ 12.25 ॥

brahmovāca jñātāraśca bhavanto vai kurvate garhitaṁ dvijāḥ ajñātāro yadā kuryuḥ kiṁ punaḥ kathyate punaḥ

Brahma said: O brahmins, you, who are learned, have committed a reprehensible act — if the ignorant were to do such a thing, what then could be said of it?

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.12.26)

विरुद्ध्यैवं शिवं देवं कुशलं कः समीहते । मध्याह्नसमये यो वै नातिथिं च परामृशेत् ॥ 12.26 ॥

viruddhyaivaṁ śivaṁ devaṁ kuśalaṁ kaḥ samīhate madhyāhnasamaye yo vai nātithiṁ ca parāmṛśet

Who indeed can hope for welfare by thus opposing the god Shiva? — as when one, at midday, fails to attend to a guest.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.12.27)

तस्यैव सुकृतं नीत्वा स्वीयं च दुष्कृतं पुनः । संस्थाप्य चातिथिर्याति किं पुनः शिवमेव वा ॥ 12.27 ॥

tasyaiva sukṛtaṁ nītvā svīyaṁ ca duṣkṛtaṁ punaḥ saṁsthāpya cātithiryāti kiṁ punaḥ śivameva vā

Taking away the host's merit, and leaving his own demerit in its place, the neglected guest departs — how much more so, then, when it is Shiva himself!

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.12.28)

यावल्लिङ्गं स्थिरं नैव जगतां त्रितये शुभम् । जायते न तदा क्वापि सत्यमेतद्वदाम्यहम् ॥ 12.28 ॥

yāvalliṅgaṁ sthiraṁ naiva jagatāṁ tritaye śubham jāyate na tadā kvāpi satyametadvadāmyaham

As long as the linga is not made stable, no auspiciousness shall arise anywhere for the three worlds — this I tell you is the truth.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.12.29)

भवद्भिश्च तथा कार्यं यथा स्वास्थ्यं भवेदिह । शिवलिङ्गस्य ऋषयो मनसा संविचार्यताम् ॥ 12.29 ॥

bhavadbhiśca tathā kāryaṁ yathā svāsthyaṁ bhavediha śivaliṅgasya ṛṣayo manasā saṁvicāryatām

O sages, you must therefore do whatever will bring stability here to the Shiva-linga; consider this well in your minds.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.12.30)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तास्ते प्रणम्योचुर्ब्रह्माणमृषयश्च वै । किमस्माभिर्विधे कार्यं तत्कार्यं त्वं समादिश ॥ 12.30 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktāste praṇamyocurbrahmāṇamṛṣayaśca vai kimasmābhirvidhe kāryaṁ tatkāryaṁ tvaṁ samādiśa

Suta said: Thus addressed, those sages bowed and said to Brahma, "O Vidhi, what must we do? Instruct us in that task."

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.12.31)

इत्युक्तश्च मुनीशैस्तैः सर्वलोकपितामहः । मुनीशांस्तांस्तदा ब्रह्मा स्वयं प्रोवाच वै तदा ॥ 12.31 ॥

ityuktaśca munīśaistaiḥ sarvalokapitāmahaḥ munīśāṁstāṁstadā brahmā svayaṁ provāca vai tadā

Thus addressed by those lords of sages, Brahma, the grandsire of all worlds, then himself spoke to those lords of sages.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.12.32)

ब्रह्मोवाच । आराध्य गिरिजां देवीं प्रार्थयन्तु सुराः शिवाम् । योनिरूपा भवेच्चेद्वै तदा तत्स्थिरतां व्रजेत् ॥ 12.32 ॥

brahmovāca ārādhya girijāṁ devīṁ prārthayantu surāḥ śivām yonirūpā bhaveccedvai tadā tatsthiratāṁ vrajet

Brahma said: Let the gods worship the goddess Girija and entreat auspicious Shiva. If she takes the form of the yoni, then that linga shall attain stability.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.12.33)

तद्विधिं प्रवदाम्यद्य सर्वे शृणुत सत्तमाः । तामेव कुरुत प्रेम्णा प्रसन्ना सा भविष्यति ॥ 12.33 ॥

tadvidhiṁ pravadāmyadya sarve śṛṇuta sattamāḥ tāmeva kuruta premṇā prasannā sā bhaviṣyati

I shall now tell you that rite — listen, all you excellent ones; perform it with love, and she will become pleased.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.12.34)

कुम्भमेकं च संस्थाप्य कृत्वाष्टदलमुत्तमम् । दूर्वायवाङ्कुरैस्तीर्थोदकमापूरयेत्ततः ॥ 12.34 ॥

kumbhamekaṁ ca saṁsthāpya kṛtvāṣṭadalamuttamam dūrvāyavāṅkuraistīrthodakamāpūrayettataḥ

Having set up a single water-pot upon an excellent eight-petalled design, one should then fill it with holy water together with durva grass and barley shoots.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.12.35)

वेदमन्त्रैस्ततस्तं वै कुम्भं चैवाभिमन्त्रयेत् । श्रुत्युक्तविधिना तस्य पूजां कृत्वा शिवं स्मरन् ॥ 12.35 ॥

vedamantraistatastaṁ vai kumbhaṁ caivābhimantrayet śrutyuktavidhinā tasya pūjāṁ kṛtvā śivaṁ smaran

Then one should consecrate that pot with Vedic mantras, and, remembering Shiva, worship it according to the rite prescribed in the scriptures.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.12.36)

तल्लिङ्गं तज्जलेनाभिषेचयेत्परमर्षयः । शतरुद्रियमन्त्रैस्तु प्रोक्षितं शान्तिमाप्नुयात् ॥ 12.36 ॥

talliṅgaṁ tajjalenābhiṣecayetparamarṣayaḥ śatarudriyamantraistu prokṣitaṁ śāntimāpnuyāt

O supreme sages, one should then anoint that linga with that water; sprinkled with the Shatarudriya mantras, it shall attain peace.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.12.37)

गिरिजायोनिरूपं च बाणं स्थाप्य शुभं पुनः । तत्र लिङ्गं च तत्स्थाप्यं पुनश्चैवाभिमन्त्रयेत् ॥ 12.37 ॥

girijāyonirūpaṁ ca bāṇaṁ sthāpya śubhaṁ punaḥ tatra liṅgaṁ ca tatsthāpyaṁ punaścaivābhimantrayet

Then, having placed the auspicious bana, the form of Girija's yoni, the linga should be established upon it, and it should again be consecrated with mantras.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.12.38)

सुगन्धैश्चन्दनैश्चैव पुष्पधूपादिभिस्तथा । नैवेद्यादिकपूजाभिस्तोषयेत्परमेश्वरम् ॥ 12.38 ॥

sugandhaiścandanaiścaiva puṣpadhūpādibhistathā naivedyādikapūjābhistoṣayetparameśvaram

With fragrant sandal-paste, flowers, incense and the like, and with offerings of food and other such rites, one should gratify the Supreme Lord.

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.12.39)

प्रणिपातैः स्तवैः पुण्यैर्वाद्यैर्गानैस्तथा पुनः । ततः स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्वा जयेति व्याहरेत्तथा ॥ 12.39 ॥

praṇipātaiḥ stavaiḥ puṇyairvādyairgānaistathā punaḥ tataḥ svastyayanaṁ kṛtvā jayeti vyāharettathā

With prostrations, sacred hymns, music, and song, and then, having performed the benedictory rite, one should proclaim, "Victory!"

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.12.40)

प्रसन्नो भव देवेश जगदाह्लादकारक । कर्ता पालयिता त्वं च संहर्ता त्वं निरक्षरः ॥ 12.40 ॥

prasanno bhava deveśa jagadāhlādakāraka kartā pālayitā tvaṁ ca saṁhartā tvaṁ nirakṣaraḥ

"Be pleased, O lord of gods, delighter of the world! You are the creator, the sustainer, and you the destroyer, the imperishable one."

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.12.41)

जगदादिर्जगद्योनिर्जगदन्तर्गतोऽपि च । शान्तो भव महेशान सर्वांल्लोकांश्च पालय ॥ 12.41 ॥

jagadādirjagadyonirjagadantargato’pi ca śānto bhava maheśāna sarvāṁllokāṁśca pālaya

"The origin of the world, the womb of the world, and also indwelling within the world — be at peace, O great Lord, and protect all the worlds."

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.12.42)

एवं कृते विधौ स्वास्थ्यं भविष्यति न संशयः । विकारो न त्रिलोकेऽस्मिन्भविष्यति सुखं सदा ॥ 12.42 ॥

evaṁ kṛte vidhau svāsthyaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ vikāro na triloke’sminbhaviṣyati sukhaṁ sadā

When this rite is thus performed, stability shall come — without doubt; no disturbance shall then arise in these three worlds, and there shall be happiness always.

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.12.43)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तास्ते द्विजा देवाः प्रणिपत्य पितामहम् । शिवं तं शरणं प्राप्ताः सर्वलोकसुखेप्सया ॥ 12.43 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktāste dvijā devāḥ praṇipatya pitāmaham śivaṁ taṁ śaraṇaṁ prāptāḥ sarvalokasukhepsayā

Suta said: O brahmins, thus addressed, those gods bowed to the grandsire and, desiring the happiness of all the worlds, took refuge in that same Shiva.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.12.44)

पूजितः परया भक्त्या प्रार्थितः शङ्करस्तदा । सुप्रसन्नस्ततो भूत्वा तानुवाच महेश्वरः ॥ 12.44 ॥

pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā prārthitaḥ śaṅkarastadā suprasannastato bhūtvā tānuvāca maheśvaraḥ

Worshipped with supreme devotion, entreated thus, Shankara then, having become well pleased, spoke to them.

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.12.45)

महेश्वर उवाच । हे देवा ऋषयः सर्वे मद्वचः शृणुतादरात् । योनिरूपेण मल्लिङ्गं धृतं चेत्स्यात्तदा सुखम् ॥ 12.45 ॥

maheśvara uvāca he devā ṛṣayaḥ sarve madvacaḥ śṛṇutādarāt yonirūpeṇa malliṅgaṁ dhṛtaṁ cetsyāttadā sukham

Maheshvara said: O gods and sages, all of you, listen respectfully to my word. If my linga is held by the yoni-form, then there shall be happiness.

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.12.46)

पार्वतीं च विना नान्या लिङ्गं धारयितुं क्षमा । तया धृतं च मल्लिङ्गं द्रुतं शान्तिं गमिष्यति ॥ 12.46 ॥

pārvatīṁ ca vinā nānyā liṅgaṁ dhārayituṁ kṣamā tayā dhṛtaṁ ca malliṅgaṁ drutaṁ śāntiṁ gamiṣyati

None other than Parvati is capable of holding this linga; held by her, my linga shall swiftly attain peace.

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.12.47)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा ऋषिभिर्देवैः सुप्रसन्नैर्मुनीश्वराः । गृहीत्वा चैव ब्रह्माणं गिरिजा प्रार्थिता तदा ॥ 12.47 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā ṛṣibhirdevaiḥ suprasannairmunīśvarāḥ gṛhītvā caiva brahmāṇaṁ girijā prārthitā tadā

Suta said: O lords of sages, hearing this, the sages and gods, well pleased, then took Brahma along and entreated Girija.

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.12.48)

प्रसन्नां गिरिजां कृत्वा वृषभध्वजमेव च । पूर्वोक्तं च विधिं कृत्वा स्थापितं लिङ्गमुत्तमम् ॥ 12.48 ॥

prasannāṁ girijāṁ kṛtvā vṛṣabhadhvajameva ca pūrvoktaṁ ca vidhiṁ kṛtvā sthāpitaṁ liṅgamuttamam

Having pleased Girija, and likewise the Bull-Bannered Lord, and having performed the previously described rite, the excellent linga was established.

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.12.49)

मन्त्रोक्तेन विधानेन देवाश्च ऋषयस्तथा । चक्रुः प्रसन्नां गिरिजां शिवं च धर्महेतवे ॥ 12.49 ॥

mantroktena vidhānena devāśca ṛṣayastathā cakruḥ prasannāṁ girijāṁ śivaṁ ca dharmahetave

By the rite prescribed in the mantras, the gods and likewise the sages made Girija and Shiva pleased, for the sake of dharma.

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.12.50)

समानर्चुर्विशेषेण सर्वे देवर्षयः शिवम् । ब्रह्मा विष्णुः परे चैव त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ॥ 12.50 ॥

samānarcurviśeṣeṇa sarve devarṣayaḥ śivam brahmā viṣṇuḥ pare caiva trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

All the gods and sages, together with Brahma, Vishnu, and the rest, and the whole of the three worlds moving and unmoving, worshipped Shiva with particular devotion.

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.12.51)

सुप्रसन्नः शिवो जातः शिवा च जगदम्बिका । धृतं तया च तल्लिङ्गं तेन रूपेण वै तदा ॥ 12.51 ॥

suprasannaḥ śivo jātaḥ śivā ca jagadambikā dhṛtaṁ tayā ca talliṅgaṁ tena rūpeṇa vai tadā

Shiva became well pleased, and so too Shiva (Parvati), the Mother of the world; and by her, in that yoni-form, that linga was then held.

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.12.52)

लोकानां स्थापिते लिङ्गे कल्याणं चाभवत्तदा । प्रसिद्धं चैव तल्लिङ्गं त्रिलोक्यामभवद् द्विजाः ॥ 12.52 ॥

lokānāṁ sthāpite liṅge kalyāṇaṁ cābhavattadā prasiddhaṁ caiva talliṅgaṁ trilokyāmabhavad dvijāḥ

When the linga was thus established for the sake of the worlds, welfare then came about; and O brahmins, that linga became renowned throughout the three worlds.

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.12.53)

हाटकेशमिति ख्यातं तच्छिवाशिवमित्यपि । पूजनात्तस्य लोकानां सुखं भवति सर्वथा ॥ 12.53 ॥

hāṭakeśamiti khyātaṁ tacchivāśivamityapi pūjanāttasya lokānāṁ sukhaṁ bhavati sarvathā

It became known as Hatakesha, and also as Shivashiva; by its worship, happiness comes to people in every way.

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.12.54)

इह सर्वसमृद्धिः स्यान्नानासुखवहाधिका । परत्र परमा मुक्तिर्नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ 12.54 ॥

iha sarvasamṛddhiḥ syānnānāsukhavahādhikā paratra paramā muktirnātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Here, in this world, every kind of prosperity, bearing manifold joys in abundance, is obtained; and hereafter, supreme liberation — of this there should be no doubt.