The Description of Knowledge

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.43.1)

सूत उवाच । श्रूयतामृषयः सर्वे शिवज्ञानं यथा श्रुतम् । कथयामि महागुह्यं परमुक्तिस्वरूपकम् ॥ 43.1 ॥

sūta uvāca śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ sarve śivajñānaṁ yathā śrutam kathayāmi mahāguhyaṁ paramuktisvarūpakam

Suta said: "Listen, all you sages, to the knowledge of Shiva just as I have heard it; I shall tell this great secret, of the very nature of supreme liberation."

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.43.2)

कनारदकुमाराणां व्यासस्य कपिलस्य च । एतेषां च समाजे तैर्निश्चित्य समुदाहृतम् ॥ 43.2 ॥

kanāradakumārāṇāṁ vyāsasya kapilasya ca eteṣāṁ ca samāje tairniścitya samudāhṛtam

"In the assembly of Brahma, Narada, the Kumaras, Vyasa, and Kapila, it was ascertained and declared by them."

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.43.3)

इति ज्ञानं सदा ज्ञेयं सर्वं शिवमयं जगत् । शिवः सर्वमयो ज्ञेयः सर्वज्ञेन विपश्चिता ॥ 43.3 ॥

iti jñānaṁ sadā jñeyaṁ sarvaṁ śivamayaṁ jagat śivaḥ sarvamayo jñeyaḥ sarvajñena vipaścitā

"Thus this knowledge is to be always known: the whole world consists of Shiva; Shiva, containing all, is to be known by the all-knowing, discerning one."

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.43.4)

आब्रह्मतृणपर्यन्तं यत्किञ्चिद् दृश्यते जगत् । तत्सर्वं शिव एवास्ति स देवः शिव उच्यते ॥ 43.4 ॥

ābrahmatṛṇaparyantaṁ yatkiñcid dṛśyate jagat tatsarvaṁ śiva evāsti sa devaḥ śiva ucyate

"Whatever world is seen, from Brahma down to a blade of grass — all that is Shiva alone; that god is called Shiva."

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.43.5)

यदेच्छा तस्य जायेत तदा च क्रियते त्विदम् । सर्वं स एव जानाति तं न जानाति कश्चन ॥ 43.5 ॥

yadecchā tasya jāyeta tadā ca kriyate tvidam sarvaṁ sa eva jānāti taṁ na jānāti kaścana

"Whatever wish arises in him, that is then brought about; he alone knows everything, but no one knows him."

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.43.6)

रचयित्वा स्वयं तच्च प्रविश्य दूरतः स्थितः । न तत्र च प्रविष्टोऽसौ निर्लिप्तश्चित्स्वरूपवान् ॥ 43.6 ॥

racayitvā svayaṁ tacca praviśya dūrataḥ sthitaḥ na tatra ca praviṣṭo'sau nirliptaścitsvarūpavān

"Having himself fashioned this world and entered into it, he yet remains far off; he has not truly entered it — unattached, of the very nature of pure consciousness."

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.43.7)

यथा च ज्योतिषश्चैव जलादौ प्रतिबिम्बता । वस्तुतो न प्रवेशो वै तथैव च शिवः स्वयम् ॥ 43.7 ॥

yathā ca jyotiṣaścaiva jalādau pratibimbatā vastuto na praveśo vai tathaiva ca śivaḥ svayam

"Just as a heavenly light is reflected in water and the like, without in reality entering it — so too is Shiva himself."

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.43.8)

वस्तुतस्तु स्वयं सर्वं क्रमो हि भासते शुभः । अज्ञानं च मतेर्भेदो नास्त्यन्यच्च द्वयं पुनः ॥ 43.8 ॥

vastutastu svayaṁ sarvaṁ kramo hi bhāsate śubhaḥ ajñānaṁ ca materbhedo nāstyanyacca dvayaṁ punaḥ

"In reality he himself is everything; this apparent sequence is auspicious [in nature]; ignorance is nothing but a difference of understanding — there is no other duality besides this."

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.43.9)

दर्शनेषु च सर्वेषु मतिभेदः प्रदर्श्यते । परं वेदान्तिनो नित्यमद्वैतं प्रतिचक्षते ॥ 43.9 ॥

darśaneṣu ca sarveṣu matibhedaḥ pradarśyate paraṁ vedāntino nityamadvaitaṁ praticakṣate

"In all the various philosophical systems, a difference of view is shown; but the followers of Vedanta constantly proclaim non-duality as supreme."

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.43.10)

स्वस्याप्यंशस्य जीवांऽशो ह्यविद्यामोहितोऽवशः । अन्योऽहमिति जानाति तया मुक्तो भवेच्छिवः ॥ 43.10 ॥

svasyāpyaṁśasya jīvāṁ'śo hyavidyāmohito'vaśaḥ anyo'hamiti jānāti tayā mukto bhavecchivaḥ

"Even the individual soul, a portion of his own portion, deluded by ignorance and powerless, thinks 'I am other'; freed from that delusion, it becomes Shiva."

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.43.11)

सर्वं व्याप्य शिवः साक्षाद् व्यापकः सर्वजन्तुषु । चेतनाचेतनेशोऽपि सर्वत्र शङ्करः स्वयम् ॥ 43.11 ॥

sarvaṁ vyāpya śivaḥ sākṣād vyāpakaḥ sarvajantuṣu cetanācetaneśo'pi sarvatra śaṅkaraḥ svayam

"Shiva, directly pervading everything, is all-pervading in every creature; though lord of both the sentient and the insentient, Shankara himself is everywhere."

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.43.12)

उपायं यः करोत्यस्य दर्शनार्थं विचक्षणः । वेदान्तमार्गमाश्रित्य तद्दर्शनफलं लभेत् ॥ 43.12 ॥

upāyaṁ yaḥ karotyasya darśanārthaṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ vedāntamārgamāśritya taddarśanaphalaṁ labhet

"Whoever, discerning, undertakes the means to behold him, resorting to the path of Vedanta, attains the fruit of that vision."

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.43.13)

यथाग्निर्व्यापकश्चैव काष्ठे काष्ठे च तिष्ठति । यो वै मन्थति तत्काष्ठं स वै पश्यत्यसंशयम् ॥ 43.13 ॥

yathāgnirvyāpakaścaiva kāṣṭhe kāṣṭhe ca tiṣṭhati yo vai manthati tatkāṣṭhaṁ sa vai paśyatyasaṁśayam

"Just as fire, all-pervading, abides in every piece of wood — whoever churns that wood surely sees it, without doubt —"

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.43.14)

भक्त्यादिसाधनानीह यः करोति विचक्षणः । स वै पश्यत्यवश्यं हि तं शिवं नात्र संशयः ॥ 43.14 ॥

bhaktyādisādhanānīha yaḥ karoti vicakṣaṇaḥ sa vai paśyatyavaśyaṁ hi taṁ śivaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

"— so too whoever, discerning, performs here the practices of devotion and the rest, surely and certainly beholds that Shiva — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.43.15)

शिवःशिवःशिवश्चैव नान्यदस्तीति किञ्चन । भ्रान्त्या नानास्वरूपो हि भासते शङ्करः सदा ॥ 43.15 ॥

śivaḥśivaḥśivaścaiva nānyadastīti kiñcana bhrāntyā nānāsvarūpo hi bhāsate śaṅkaraḥ sadā

"Shiva, Shiva, Shiva alone — there is nothing else whatsoever; it is only through delusion that Shankara ever appears in manifold forms."

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.43.16)

यथा समुद्रो मृच्चैव सुवर्णमथवा पुनः । उपाधितो हि नानात्वं लभते शङ्करस्तथा ॥ 43.16 ॥

yathā samudro mṛccaiva suvarṇamathavā punaḥ upādhito hi nānātvaṁ labhate śaṅkarastathā

"Just as the ocean, or clay, or again gold, appear in various forms only through their limiting adjuncts — so too Shankara attains apparent multiplicity in the same way."

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.43.17)

कार्यकारणयोर्भेदो वस्तुतो न प्रवर्तते । केवलं भ्रान्तिबुद्ध्यैव तदभावे स नश्यति ॥ 43.17 ॥

kāryakāraṇayorbhedo vastuto na pravartate kevalaṁ bhrāntibuddhyaiva tadabhāve sa naśyati

"The distinction between cause and effect does not, in reality, hold true; it exists only through a deluded understanding, and in the absence of that delusion, it vanishes."

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.43.18)

यदा बीजात्प्ररोहश्च नानात्वं हि प्रकाशयेत् । अन्ते च बीजमेव स्यात्तत्प्ररोहश्च नश्यति ॥ 43.18 ॥

yadā bījātprarohaśca nānātvaṁ hi prakāśayet ante ca bījameva syāttatprarohaśca naśyati

"When a sprout grows from a seed, it displays multiplicity; but in the end that sprout perishes and becomes seed once more."

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.43.19)

ज्ञानी च बीजमेव स्यात्प्ररोहो विकृतीर्मता । तन्निवृत्तौ पुनर्ज्ञानी नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ 43.19 ॥

jñānī ca bījameva syātpraroho vikṛtīrmatā tannivṛttau punarjñānī nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

"The knower is like the seed itself, while the manifest world of transformations is held to be like the sprout; when that transformation ceases, the soul again becomes the knower — there should be no doubt about this."

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.43.20)

सर्वं शिवः शिवः सर्वो नास्ति भेदश्च कश्चन । कथं च विविधं पश्यत्येकत्वं च कथं पुनः ॥ 43.20 ॥

sarvaṁ śivaḥ śivaḥ sarvo nāsti bhedaśca kaścana kathaṁ ca vividhaṁ paśyatyekatvaṁ ca kathaṁ punaḥ

"All is Shiva, Shiva is all — there is no difference whatsoever. How, then, does one see multiplicity, and how again does one see oneness?"

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.43.21)

यथैकं चैव सूर्याख्यं ज्योतिर्नानाविधं जनैः । जलादौ च विशेषेण दृश्यते तत्तथैव सः ॥ 43.21 ॥

yathaikaṁ caiva sūryākhyaṁ jyotirnānāvidhaṁ janaiḥ jalādau ca viśeṣeṇa dṛśyate tattathaiva saḥ

"Just as the single light called the sun is seen by people as manifold, especially when reflected in water and the like — so too is he."

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.43.22)

सर्वत्र व्यापकश्चैव स्पर्शत्वं न विबध्यते । तथैव व्यापको देवो बध्यते न क्वचित्स वै ॥ 43.22 ॥

sarvatra vyāpakaścaiva sparśatvaṁ na vibadhyate tathaiva vyāpako devo badhyate na kvacitsa vai

"Being all-pervading everywhere, it is not bound by the limits of contact; likewise the all-pervading god is nowhere bound at all."

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.43.23)

साहङ्कारस्तथा जीवस्तन्मुक्तः शङ्करः स्वयम् । जीवस्तुच्छः कर्मभोगी निर्लिप्तः शङ्करो महान् ॥ 43.23 ॥

sāhaṅkārastathā jīvastanmuktaḥ śaṅkaraḥ svayam jīvastucchaḥ karmabhogī nirliptaḥ śaṅkaro mahān

"The individual soul, possessing ego, is thus bound; but Shankara himself is free of that. The soul is petty, subject to the experience of karma; Shankara, the great one, is unattached."

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.43.24)

यथैकं च सुवर्णादि मिलितं रजतादिना । अल्पमूल्यं प्रजायेत तथा जीवोऽप्यहंयुतः ॥ 43.24 ॥

yathaikaṁ ca suvarṇādi militaṁ rajatādinā alpamūlyaṁ prajāyeta tathā jīvo'pyahaṁyutaḥ

"Just as gold, when mixed with silver and other baser metals, comes to have lesser value — so too the soul, joined with ego, loses its true worth."

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.43.25)

यथैव हि सुवर्णादि क्षारादेः शोधितं शुभम् । पूर्ववन्मूल्यतां याति तथा जीवोऽपि संस्कृतेः ॥ 43.25 ॥

yathaiva hi suvarṇādi kṣārādeḥ śodhitaṁ śubham pūrvavanmūlyatāṁ yāti tathā jīvo'pi saṁskṛteḥ

"Just as gold, purified by alkali and the like, regains its former excellent value — so too the soul, through spiritual purification, regains its true worth."

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.43.26)

प्रथमं सद्गुरुं प्राप्य भक्तिभावसमन्वितः । शिवबुद्ध्या करोत्युच्चैः पूजनं स्मरणादिकम् ॥ 43.26 ॥

prathamaṁ sadguruṁ prāpya bhaktibhāvasamanvitaḥ śivabuddhyā karotyuccaiḥ pūjanaṁ smaraṇādikam

"Having first found a true guru, and endowed with devotional feeling, one performs, with the awareness of Shiva, worship, remembrance, and the rest, with full earnestness."

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.43.27)

तद्बुध्या देहतो याति सर्वपापादिको मलः । तदाज्ञानं च नश्येत ज्ञानवाञ्जायते यदा ॥ 43.27 ॥

tadbudhyā dehato yāti sarvapāpādiko malaḥ tadājñānaṁ ca naśyeta jñānavāñjāyate yadā

"By that awareness, all sin and other impurity departs from the body; then ignorance is destroyed, and one becomes possessed of knowledge."

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.43.28)

तदाहङ्कारनिर्मुक्तो जीवो निर्मलबुद्धिमान् । शङ्करस्य प्रसादेन याति शङ्करतां पुनः ॥ 43.28 ॥

tadāhaṅkāranirmukto jīvo nirmalabuddhimān śaṅkarasya prasādena yāti śaṅkaratāṁ punaḥ

"Then the soul, freed from ego, its intellect purified, attains once more, through Shankara's grace, the very state of Shankara."

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.43.29)

यथादर्शस्वरूपे च स्वीयरूपं प्रदृश्यते । तथा सर्वत्रगं शम्भुं पश्यतीति सुनिश्चितम् ॥ 43.29 ॥

yathādarśasvarūpe ca svīyarūpaṁ pradṛśyate tathā sarvatragaṁ śambhuṁ paśyatīti suniścitam

"Just as one's own form is seen reflected in a mirror, so too one sees Shambhu, who pervades everywhere — this is certain."

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.43.30)

जीवन्मुक्तः स एवासौ देहः शिर्णः शिवे मिलेत् । प्रारब्धवशगो देहस्तद्भिन्नो ज्ञानवान् मतः ॥ 43.30 ॥

jīvanmuktaḥ sa evāsau dehaḥ śirṇaḥ śive milet prārabdhavaśago dehastadbhinno jñānavān mataḥ

"That very one is liberated while yet living; when the body falls away, he merges into Shiva. His body, subject to the momentum of past karma, remains distinct for a time, while the knower himself is held to be already liberated."

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.43.31)

शुभं लब्ध्वा न हृष्येत कुप्येल्लब्ध्वाशुभं न हि । द्वन्द्वेषु समता यस्य ज्ञानवानुच्यते हि सः ॥ 43.31 ॥

śubhaṁ labdhvā na hṛṣyeta kupyellabdhvāśubhaṁ na hi dvandveṣu samatā yasya jñānavānucyate hi saḥ

"He does not rejoice on obtaining good fortune, nor does he grow angry on meeting misfortune; he whose mind remains equal amid the pairs of opposites — he indeed is called the possessor of true knowledge."

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.43.32)

आत्मयोगेन तत्त्वानामथवा च विवेकतः । यथा शरीरतो यायाच्छरीरं मुक्तिमिच्छता ॥ 43.32 ॥

ātmayogena tattvānāmathavā ca vivekataḥ yathā śarīrato yāyāccharīraṁ muktimicchatā

"Through the yoga of the Self, or through discernment of the principles of reality, one desiring liberation should proceed in such a way that, from the body —"

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.43.33)

सदाशिवो विलीयेत मुक्तो विरहमेव च । ज्ञानमूलं तथाध्यात्म्यं तस्य भक्तिः शिवस्य च ॥ 43.33 ॥

sadāśivo vilīyeta mukto virahameva ca jñānamūlaṁ tathādhyātmyaṁ tasya bhaktiḥ śivasya ca

"— he dissolves into Sadashiva, liberated, beyond all separation; the root of that state is knowledge, together with inward spiritual practice, and devotion to Shiva."

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.43.34)

भक्तेश्च प्रेम सम्प्रोक्तं प्रेम्णश्च श्रवणं तथा । श्रवणाच्चापि सत्सङ्गः सत्सङ्गाच्च गुरुर्बुधः ॥ 43.34 ॥

bhakteśca prema samproktaṁ premṇaśca śravaṇaṁ tathā śravaṇāccāpi satsaṅgaḥ satsaṅgācca gururbudhaḥ

"From devotion, love is said to arise; from love, hearing; from hearing, the company of the good; and from the company of the good, a wise guru."

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.43.35)

सम्पन्ने च तथा ज्ञाने मुक्तो भवति निश्चितम् । इति चेज्ज्ञानवान्यो वै शम्भुमेव सदा भजेत् ॥ 43.35 ॥

sampanne ca tathā jñāne mukto bhavati niścitam iti cejjñānavānyo vai śambhumeva sadā bhajet

"And when knowledge is thus attained, one surely becomes liberated. Therefore, whoever possesses this knowledge should always worship Shambhu alone."

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.43.36)

अनन्यया च भक्त्या वै युक्तः शम्भुं भजेत्पुनः । अन्ते च मुक्तिमायाति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ 43.36 ॥

ananyayā ca bhaktyā vai yuktaḥ śambhuṁ bhajetpunaḥ ante ca muktimāyāti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

"Endowed with undivided devotion, one should worship Shambhu again and again; and at the end one attains liberation — there should be no doubt about this."

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.43.37)

अतोऽधिको न देवोऽस्ति मुक्तिप्राप्त्यै च शङ्करात् । शरणं प्राप्य यं चैव संसाराद्विनिवर्तते ॥ 43.37 ॥

ato'dhiko na devo'sti muktiprāptyai ca śaṅkarāt śaraṇaṁ prāpya yaṁ caiva saṁsārādvinivartate

"There is no god greater than Shankara for the attainment of liberation; having taken refuge in him, one turns back from the cycle of worldly existence."

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.43.38)

इति मे विविधं वाक्यमृषीणां च समागतैः । निश्चित्य कथितं विप्रा धिया धार्यं प्रयत्नतः ॥ 43.38 ॥

iti me vividhaṁ vākyamṛṣīṇāṁ ca samāgataiḥ niścitya kathitaṁ viprā dhiyā dhāryaṁ prayatnataḥ

"Thus, O brahmins, this manifold teaching of mine, ascertained together with the assembled sages, has been declared; it should be held firmly in mind, with diligent effort."

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.43.39)

प्रथमं विष्णवे दत्तं शम्भुना लिङ्गसम्मुखे । विष्णुना ब्रह्मणे दत्तं ब्रह्मणा सनकादिषु ॥ 43.39 ॥

prathamaṁ viṣṇave dattaṁ śambhunā liṅgasammukhe viṣṇunā brahmaṇe dattaṁ brahmaṇā sanakādiṣu

"It was first given by Shambhu to Vishnu, before the linga; by Vishnu it was given to Brahma; by Brahma, to Sanaka and the other sages."

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.43.40)

नारदाय ततः प्रोक्तं तज्ज्ञानं सनकादिभिः । व्यासाय नारदेनोक्तं तेन मह्यं कृपालुना ॥ 43.40 ॥

nāradāya tataḥ proktaṁ tajjñānaṁ sanakādibhiḥ vyāsāya nāradenoktaṁ tena mahyaṁ kṛpālunā

"That knowledge was then declared to Narada by Sanaka and the others; it was told by Narada to Vyasa; and by him, out of compassion, it was told to me."

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.43.41)

मया चैव भवद्भ्यश्च भवद्भिर्लोकहेतवे । स्थापनीयं प्रयत्नेन शिवप्राप्तिकरं च तत् ॥ 43.41 ॥

mayā caiva bhavadbhyaśca bhavadbhirlokahetave sthāpanīyaṁ prayatnena śivaprāptikaraṁ ca tat

"And by me it has been given to you; by you, for the sake of the world, it should be diligently established — this teaching, which brings about the attainment of Shiva."

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.43.42)

इति वश्च समाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं मुनीश्वराः । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छथ ॥ 43.42 ॥

iti vaśca samākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ munīśvarāḥ gopanīyaṁ prayatnena kimanyacchrotumicchatha

"Thus have I declared to you what I was asked, O lords of sages; it should be diligently guarded as a sacred secret. What else do you wish to hear?"

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.43.43)

व्यास उवाच । एतचछ्रुत्वा तु ऋषय आनन्दं परमं गताः । हर्षगद्गदया वाचा नत्वा ते तुष्टुवुर्मुहुः ॥ 43.43 ॥

vyāsa uvāca etacachrutvā tu ṛṣaya ānandaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ harṣagadgadayā vācā natvā te tuṣṭuvurmuhuḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing this, the sages attained supreme bliss; with voices choked with joy, they bowed and praised him again and again.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.43.44)

ऋषय ऊचुः । व्यासशिष्य नमस्तेऽस्तु धन्यस्त्वं शैवसत्तम । श्रावितं नः परं वस्तु शैवं ज्ञानमनुत्तमम् ॥ 43.44 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vyāsaśiṣya namaste'stu dhanyastvaṁ śaivasattama śrāvitaṁ naḥ paraṁ vastu śaivaṁ jñānamanuttamam

The sages said: "O disciple of Vyasa, salutations to you! Blessed are you, O best among Shiva's devotees! You have made us hear that supreme thing, the unsurpassed knowledge of Shiva."

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.43.45)

अस्माकं चेतसो भ्रान्तिर्गता हि कृपया तव । सन्तुष्टाः शिवसज्ज्ञानं प्राप्य त्वत्तो विमुक्तिदम् ॥ 43.45 ॥

asmākaṁ cetaso bhrāntirgatā hi kṛpayā tava santuṣṭāḥ śivasajjñānaṁ prāpya tvatto vimuktidam

"The delusion of our minds has departed through your grace; we are satisfied, having obtained from you the true knowledge of Shiva, which bestows liberation."

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.43.46)

सूत उवाच । नास्तिकाय न वक्तव्यमश्रद्धाय शठाय च । अभक्ताय महेशस्य न चाशुश्रुषवे द्विजाः ॥ 43.46 ॥

sūta uvāca nāstikāya na vaktavyamaśraddhāya śaṭhāya ca abhaktāya maheśasya na cāśuśruṣave dvijāḥ

Suta said: "O brahmins, this should not be told to an unbeliever, to one without faith, to a deceitful person, to one who is not a devotee of Mahesha, nor to one unwilling to listen."

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.43.47)

इतिहासपुराणानि वेदाच्छास्त्राणि चासकृत् । विचार्य्योद्धृत्य तत्सारं मह्यं व्यासेन भाषितम् ॥ 43.47 ॥

itihāsapurāṇāni vedācchāstrāṇi cāsakṛt vicāryyoddhṛtya tatsāraṁ mahyaṁ vyāsena bhāṣitam

"Having repeatedly examined the histories, the Puranas, the Vedas, and the scriptures, and having extracted their very essence, it was spoken by Vyasa to me."

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.43.48)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा ह्येकवारं भवेत्पापं हि भस्मसात् । अभक्तो भक्तिमाप्नोति भक्तस्य भक्तिवर्धनम् ॥ 43.48 ॥

etacchrutvā hyekavāraṁ bhavetpāpaṁ hi bhasmasāt abhakto bhaktimāpnoti bhaktasya bhaktivardhanam

"Hearing this even once, sin is reduced to ashes; the non-devotee attains devotion, and the devotion of the devotee is increased."

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.43.49)

पुनः श्रुते च सद्भक्तिर्मुक्तिः स्याच्च श्रुतेः पुनः । तस्मात्पुनः पुनः श्राव्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलेप्सुभिः ॥ 43.49 ॥

punaḥ śrute ca sadbhaktirmuktiḥ syācca śruteḥ punaḥ tasmātpunaḥ punaḥ śrāvyaṁ bhuktimuktiphalepsubhiḥ

"On hearing it again, true devotion arises; and on hearing it yet again, liberation comes; therefore it should be heard again and again by those who desire the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation."

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.43.50)

आवृत्तयः पञ्च कार्याः समुद्दिश्य फलं परम् । तत्प्राप्नोति न सन्देहो व्यासस्य वचनं त्विदम् ॥ 43.50 ॥

āvṛttayaḥ pañca kāryāḥ samuddiśya phalaṁ param tatprāpnoti na sandeho vyāsasya vacanaṁ tvidam

"Five repetitions should be made, aiming at the supreme fruit; one attains that fruit without doubt — this is the very word of Vyasa."

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.43.51)

न दुर्लभं हि तस्यैव येनेदं श्रुतमुत्तमम् । पञ्चकृत्वस्तदावृत्त्या लभ्यते शिवदर्शनम् ॥ 43.51 ॥

na durlabhaṁ hi tasyaiva yenedaṁ śrutamuttamam pañcakṛtvastadāvṛttyā labhyate śivadarśanam

"Nothing is difficult to attain for one by whom this excellent teaching has been heard; through five repetitions of it, the vision of Shiva is obtained."

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.43.52)

पुरातनाश्च राजानो विप्रा वैश्याश्च सत्तमाः । इदं श्रुत्वा पञ्चकृत्वो धिया सिद्धिं परां गताः ॥ 43.52 ॥

purātanāśca rājāno viprā vaiśyāśca sattamāḥ idaṁ śrutvā pañcakṛtvo dhiyā siddhiṁ parāṁ gatāḥ

"Kings of ancient times, and the best of brahmins and vaishyas, having heard this five times with a focused mind, attained supreme perfection."

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.43.53)

श्रोष्यत्यद्यापि यश्चेदं मानवो भक्तितत्परः । विज्ञानं शिवसंज्ञं वै भुक्तिं मुक्तिं लभेच्च सः ॥ 43.53 ॥

śroṣyatyadyāpi yaścedaṁ mānavo bhaktitatparaḥ vijñānaṁ śivasaṁjñaṁ vai bhuktiṁ muktiṁ labhecca saḥ

"Even now, whatever human being, devoted, shall hear this true realization called the knowledge of Shiva, he shall attain both enjoyment and liberation."

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.43.54)

व्यास उवाच । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा परमानन्दमागताः । समानर्चुश्च ते सूतं नानावस्तुभिरादरात् ॥ 43.54 ॥

vyāsa uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā paramānandamāgatāḥ samānarcuśca te sūtaṁ nānāvastubhirādarāt

Vyasa said: Hearing these words, they attained supreme bliss, and reverently honored Suta with various offerings.

Verse 55 (shiva.kotirudra.43.55)

नमस्कारैः स्तवैश्चैव स्वस्तिवाचनपूर्वकम् । आशीर्भिर्वर्धयामासुः सन्तुष्टाश्छिन्नसंशयाः ॥ 43.55 ॥

namaskāraiḥ stavaiścaiva svastivācanapūrvakam āśīrbhirvardhayāmāsuḥ santuṣṭāśchinnasaṁśayāḥ

With prostrations and hymns of praise, preceded by benedictions, they, satisfied and their doubts dispelled, exalted him with blessings.

Verse 56 (shiva.kotirudra.43.56)

परस्परं च सन्तुष्टाः सूतस्ते च सुबुद्धयः । शम्भुं देवं परं मत्वा नमन्ति स्म भजन्ति च ॥ 43.56 ॥

parasparaṁ ca santuṣṭāḥ sūtaste ca subuddhayaḥ śambhuṁ devaṁ paraṁ matvā namanti sma bhajanti ca

Mutually satisfied, Suta and those sages of good understanding, regarding Shambhu as the Supreme God, bowed to him and worshipped him.

Verse 57 (shiva.kotirudra.43.57)

एतच्छिवसुविज्ञानं शिवस्यातिप्रियं महत् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं दिव्यं शिवभक्तिविवर्धनम् ॥ 43.57 ॥

etacchivasuvijñānaṁ śivasyātipriyaṁ mahat bhuktimuktipradaṁ divyaṁ śivabhaktivivardhanam

This excellent knowledge of Shiva is exceedingly dear to Shiva himself, and great; it is divine, granting both enjoyment and liberation, and it increases devotion to Shiva.

Verse 58 (shiva.kotirudra.43.58)

इयं हि संहिता पुण्या कोटिरुद्राह्वया परा । चतुर्थी शिवपुराणस्य कथिता मे मुदावहा ॥ 43.58 ॥

iyaṁ hi saṁhitā puṇyā koṭirudrāhvayā parā caturthī śivapurāṇasya kathitā me mudāvahā

This meritorious and supreme Samhita, called Kotirudra, the fourth of the Shiva Purana, has thus been told by me, bringing joy to those who hear it.

Verse 59 (shiva.kotirudra.43.59)

एतां यः शृणुयाद्भक्त्या श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । स भुक्त्वेहाखिलान्भोगानन्ते परगतिं लभेत् ॥ 43.59 ॥

etāṁ yaḥ śaṛṇuyādbhaktyā śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ sa bhuktvehākhilānbhogānante paragatiṁ labhet

Whoever hears this with devotion, or with focused mind causes others to hear it, having enjoyed all pleasures here, attains the supreme state in the end.