The Descent of Sacred Knowledge

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.1.1)

व्यास उवाच । नमः शिवाय सोमाय सगणाय ससूनवे । प्रधानपुरुषेशाय सर्गस्थित्यन्तहेतवे

vyāsa uvāca | namaḥ śivāya somāya sagaṇāya sasūnave | pradhānapuruṣeśāya sargasthityantahetave

Vyasa said: Salutation to Shiva-Soma, together with his hosts and his son, the lord of Pradhana and Purusha, the cause of creation, maintenance, and dissolution.

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.1.2)

शक्तिरप्रतिमा यस्य ह्यैश्वर्यं चापि सर्वगम् । स्वामित्वं च विभुत्वं च स्वभावं सम्प्रचक्षते

śaktirapratimā yasya hyaiśvaryaṁ cāpi sarvagam | svāmitvaṁ ca vibhutvaṁ ca svabhāvaṁ sampracakṣate

His power is unequalled, and his sovereignty pervades all things; his lordship, his greatness, and his very nature are now declared.

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.1.3)

तमजं विश्वकर्माणं शाश्वतं शिवमव्ययम् । महादेवं महात्मानं व्रजामि शरणं शिवम्

tamajaṁ viśvakarmāṇaṁ śāśvataṁ śivamavyayam | mahādevaṁ mahātmānaṁ vrajāmi śaraṇaṁ śivam

Unto him, the unborn, the maker of the universe, the eternal, the auspicious, the imperishable — the great god, the great soul — I go for refuge, to Shiva.

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.1.4)

धर्मक्षेत्रे महातीर्थे गङ्गाकालिन्दिसङ्गमे । प्रयागे नैमिषारण्ये ब्रह्मलोकस्य वर्त्मनि

dharmakṣetre mahātīrthe gaṁgākālindisaṁgame | prayāge naimiṣāraṇye brahmalokasya vartmani

In the field of dharma, the great pilgrim-site at the confluence of the Ganga and Kalindi (Yamuna), in Prayaga and in the Naimisha forest, the very pathway to Brahmaloka —

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.1.5)

मुनयः शंसितात्मानः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः । महौजसो महाभागा महासत्रं वितेनिरे

munayaḥ śaṁsitātmānaḥ satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ | mahaujaso mahābhāgā mahāsatraṁ vitenire

there the sages, of purified souls, devoted to vows of truth, of great vigor and great fortune, undertook a great sacrificial session.

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.1.6)

तत्र सत्रं समाकर्ण्य तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् । साक्षात्सत्यवतीसूनोर्वेदव्यासस्य धीमतः

tatra satraṁ samākarṇya teṣāmakliṣṭakarmaṇām | sākṣātsatyavatīsūnorvedavyāsasya dhīmataḥ

Hearing of that session, [there came] the very disciple of the wise Vedavyasa, son of Satyavati, whose deeds were unwearied —

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.1.7)

शिष्यो महात्मा मेधावी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । पञ्चावयवयुक्तस्य वाक्यस्य गुणदोषवित्

śiṣyo mahātmā medhāvī triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | pañcāvayavayuktasya vākyasya guṇadoṣavit

renowned in the three worlds, great of soul, wise, knowing the merits and faults of speech composed of the five members of formal argument,

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.1.8)

उत्तरोत्तरवक्ता च ब्रुवतोऽपि बृहस्पतेः । मधुरश्रवणानां च मनोज्ञपदपर्वणाम्

uttarottaravaktā ca bruvato'pi bṛhaspateḥ | madhuraśravaṇānāṁ ca manojñapadaparvaṇām

able to reply even to Brihaspati as he spoke, skilled in words sweet to hear and graceful in their phrasing,

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.1.9)

कथानां निपुणो वक्ता कालविन्नयवित्कविः । आजगाम स तं देशं सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः

kathānāṁ nipuṇo vaktā kālavinnayavitkaviḥ | ājagāma sa taṁ deśaṁ sūtaḥ paurāṇikottamaḥ

a skilled narrator of tales, knowing the right time and propriety, a poet — Suta, foremost among tellers of the Puranas, came to that place.

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.1.10)

तं दृष्ट्वा सूतमायान्तं मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः । तस्मै साम च पूजां च यथावत्प्रत्यपादयन्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sūtamāyāntaṁ munayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | tasmai sāma ca pūjāṁ ca yathāvatpratyapādayan

Seeing Suta arrive, the sages rejoiced, and duly offered him gracious words and worship.

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.1.11)

प्रतिगृह्य स तां पूजां मुनिभिः प्रतिपादिताम् । उद्दिष्टमासनं भेजे नियुक्तो युक्तमात्मनः

pratigṛhya sa tāṁ pūjāṁ munibhiḥ pratipāditām | uddiṣṭamāsanaṁ bheje niyukto yuktamātmanaḥ

Having received that worship offered by the sages, he, so directed, took the seat appointed to him, composed in mind.

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.1.12)

ततस्तत्सङ्गमादेव मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । सोत्कण्ठमभवच्चित्तं श्रोतुं पौराणिकीं कथाम्

tatastatsaṁgamādeva munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām | sotkaṇṭhamabhavaccittaṁ śrotuṁ paurāṇikīṁ kathām

From that very meeting, the minds of the sages of purified soul grew eager to hear the Puranic tale.

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.1.13)

तदा तमनुकूलाभिर्वाग्भिः पूज्य महर्षयः । अतीवाभिमुखं कृत्वा वचनं चेदमब्रुवन्

tadā tamanukūlābhirvāgbhiḥ pūjya maharṣayaḥ | atīvābhimukhaṁ kṛtvā vacanaṁ cedamabruvan

Then, honoring him with gracious words, the great sages, turning wholly toward him, spoke these words.

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.1.14)

ऋषय ऊचुः । रोमहर्षण सर्वज्ञ भवान्नो भाग्यगौरवात् । सम्प्राप्तोऽद्य महाभाग शैवराज महामते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | romaharṣaṇa sarvajña bhavānno bhāgyagauravāt | samprāpto'dya mahābhāga śaivarāja mahāmate

The sages said: O Romaharshana, all-knowing one! By the weight of our good fortune you have come to us today, O greatly fortunate one, O sage of great wisdom in the lore of Shiva!

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.1.15)

पुराणविद्यामखिलां व्यासात्प्रत्यक्षमीयिवान् । तस्मादाश्चर्यभूतानां कथानां त्वं हि भाजनम्

purāṇavidyāmakhilāṁ vyāsātpratyakṣamīyivān | tasmādāścaryabhūtānāṁ kathānāṁ tvaṁ hi bhājanam

Having obtained the entire science of the Puranas directly from Vyasa, you indeed are the very vessel of wondrous tales.

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.1.16)

रत्नानामुरुसाराणां रत्नाकर इवार्णवः । यच्च भूतं यच्च भव्यं यच्चान्यद्वस्तु वर्तते

ratnānāmurusārāṇāṁ ratnākara ivārṇavaḥ | yacca bhūtaṁ yacca bhavyaṁ yaccānyadvastu vartate

Like the ocean, the treasury of gems of the greatest worth — whatever has been, whatever will be, and whatever else exists,

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.1.17)

न तवाविदितं किञ्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते । त्वमदृष्टवशादस्मद्दर्शनार्थमिहागतः । अकुर्वन्किमपि श्रेयो न वृथा गन्तुमर्हसि

na tavāviditaṁ kiñcit triṣu lokeṣu vidyate | tvamadṛṣṭavaśādasmaddarśanārthamihāgataḥ | akurvankimapi śreyo na vṛthā gantumarhasi

there is nothing in the three worlds unknown to you. By destiny's unseen power you have come here to see us — it is not fitting that you depart without doing us some good.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.1.18)

तस्माच्छ्राव्यतरं पुण्यं सत्कथाज्ञानसंहितम् । वेदान्तसारसर्वस्वं पुराणं श्रावयाशु नः

tasmācchrāvyataraṁ puṇyaṁ satkathājñānasaṁhitam | vedāntasārasarvasvaṁ purāṇaṁ śrāvayāśu naḥ

Therefore, quickly recount to us that Purana, most worth hearing, holy, filled with true tales and knowledge, the very essence of the whole of Vedanta.

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.1.19)

एवमभ्यर्थितः सूतो मुनिभिर्वेदवादिभिः । श्लक्ष्णां च न्यायसंयुक्तां प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम्

evamabhyarthitaḥ sūto munibhirvedavādibhiḥ | ślakṣṇāṁ ca nyāyasaṁyuktāṁ pratyuvāca śubhāṁ giram

Thus entreated by the sages who spoke in accord with the Veda, Suta replied with a gentle, reasoned, and auspicious speech.

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.1.20)

सूत उवाच । पूजितोऽनुगृहीतश्च भवद्भिरिति चोदितः । कस्मात्सम्यङ् न विब्रूयां पुराणमृषिपूजितम्

sūta uvāca | pūjito'nugṛhītaśca bhavadbhiriti coditaḥ | kasmātsamyaṁ na vibrūyāṁ purāṇamṛṣipūjitam

Suta said: Honored and graced by you, thus urged, why should I not properly declare the Purana revered by sages?

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.1.21)

अभिवन्द्य महादेवं देवीं स्कन्दं विनायकम् । नन्दिनं च तथा व्यासं साक्षात्सत्यवतीसुतम्

abhivandya mahādevaṁ devīṁ skandaṁ vināyakam | nandinaṁ ca tathā vyāsaṁ sākṣātsatyavatīsutam

Having saluted the great god, the Goddess, Skanda, Vinayaka, Nandin, and likewise Vyasa, the very son of Satyavati,

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.1.22)

वक्ष्यामि परमं पुण्यं पुराणं वेदसम्मितम् । शिवज्ञानार्णवं साक्षाद् भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्

vakṣyāmi paramaṁ puṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ vedasammitam | śivajñānārṇavaṁ sākṣād bhuktimuktiphalapradam

I shall recount that supremely holy Purana, equal in authority to the Veda, verily the very ocean of the knowledge of Shiva, bestowing the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.1.23)

शब्दार्थन्यायसंयुक्तैरागमार्थैर्विभूषितम् । श्वेतकल्पप्रसङ्गेन वायुना कथितं पुरा

śabdārthanyāyasaṁyuktairāgamārthairvibhūṣitam | śvetakalpaprasaṁgena vāyunā kathitaṁ purā

adorned with the meanings of scripture joined with correct word, sense, and reasoning, once told by the god Vayu on the occasion of the Shveta age.

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.1.24)

विद्यास्थानानि सर्वाणि पुराणानुक्रमं तथा । तत्पुराणस्य चोत्पत्तिं ब्रुवतो मे निबोधत

vidyāsthānāni sarvāṇi purāṇānukramaṁ tathā | tatpurāṇasya cotpattiṁ bruvato me nibodhata

Hear from me, as I tell of all the seats of learning, likewise the order of the Puranas, and the origin of that Purana.

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.1.25)

अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः । पुराणं धर्मशास्त्रं च विद्याश्चैताश्चतुर्दश

aṁgāni vedāścatvāro mīmāṁsā nyāyavistaraḥ | purāṇaṁ dharmaśāstraṁ ca vidyāścaitāścaturdaśa

The [six] Angas, the four Vedas, Mimamsa, the extensive science of reasoning, the Puranas, and Dharma-shastra — these are the fourteen branches of knowledge.

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.1.26)

आयुर्वेदो धनुर्वेदो गान्धर्वश्चेत्यनुक्रमात् । अर्थशास्त्रं परं तस्माद्विद्या ह्यष्टादश स्मृताः

āyurvedo dhanurvedo gāndharvaścetyanukramāt | arthaśāstraṁ paraṁ tasmādvidyā hyaṣṭādaśa smṛtāḥ

Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, and Gandharva-veda in order, and beyond them Artha-shastra — thus the branches of knowledge are remembered as eighteen.

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.1.27)

अष्टादशानां विद्यानामेतासां भिन्नवर्त्मनाम् । आदिकर्त्ता कविः साक्षाच्छूलपाणिरिति श्रुतिः

aṣṭādaśānāṁ vidyānāmetāsāṁ bhinnavartmanām | ādikarttā kaviḥ sākṣācchūlapāṇiriti śrutiḥ

Of these eighteen branches of knowledge, each of a different path, the primal author, the seer, is declared by revelation to be none other than Shulapani, Shiva himself.

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.1.28)

स हि सर्वजगन्नाथः सिसृक्षुरखिलं जगत् । ब्रह्माणं विदधे साक्षात्पुत्रमग्रे सनातनम्

sa hi sarvajagannāthaḥ sisṛkṣurakhilaṁ jagat | brahmāṇaṁ vidadhe sākṣātputramagre sanātanam

He, the lord of all the world, desiring to create the entire universe, first made Brahma, the eternal one, verily his own son.

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.1.29)

तस्मै प्रथमपुत्राय ब्रह्मणे विश्वयोनये । विद्याश्चेमा ददौ पूर्वं विश्वसृष्ट्यर्थमीश्वरः

tasmai prathamaputrāya brahmaṇe viśvayonaye | vidyāścemā dadau pūrvaṁ viśvasṛṣṭyarthamīśvaraḥ

To that firstborn son, Brahma, the womb of the universe, the Lord first gave these branches of knowledge, for the purpose of creating the world.

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.1.30)

पालनाय हरिं देवं रक्षाशक्तिं ददौ ततः । मध्यमं तनयं विष्णुं पातारं ब्रह्मणोऽपि हि

pālanāya hariṁ devaṁ rakṣāśaktiṁ dadau tataḥ | madhyamaṁ tanayaṁ viṣṇuṁ pātāraṁ brahmaṇo'pi hi

Then, for the sake of protection, he gave the power of preservation to the god Hari, his middle son Vishnu, the protector even of Brahma.

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.1.31)

लब्धविद्येन विधिना प्रजासृष्टिं वितन्वता । प्रथमं सर्वशास्त्राणां पुराणं ब्रह्मणा स्मृतम्

labdhavidyena vidhinā prajāsṛṣṭiṁ vitanvatā | prathamaṁ sarvaśāstrāṇāṁ purāṇaṁ brahmaṇā smṛtam

By Brahma, who had received that knowledge and who set about creating beings, the Purana was recalled first among all the scriptures.

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.1.32)

अनन्तरं तु वक्त्रेभ्यो वेदास्तस्य विनिर्गताः । प्रवृत्तिः सर्वशास्त्राणां तन्मुखादभवत्ततः

anantaraṁ tu vaktrebhyo vedāstasya vinirgatāḥ | pravṛttiḥ sarvaśāstrāṇāṁ tanmukhādabhavattataḥ

Thereafter the Vedas issued forth from his mouths; from his mouth arose the origin of all the other scriptures.

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.1.33)

यदास्य विस्तरं शक्ता नाधिगन्तुं प्रजा भुवि । तदा विद्यासमासार्थं विश्वेश्वरनियोगतः

yadāsya vistaraṁ śaktā nādhigantuṁ prajā bhuvi | tadā vidyāsamāsārthaṁ viśveśvaraniyogataḥ

When the creatures on earth were unable to grasp its full extent, then, for the purpose of a condensed knowledge, by the command of the Lord of the universe —

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.1.34)

द्वापरान्तेषु विश्वात्मा विष्णुर्विश्वम्भरः प्रभुः । व्यासनाम्ना चरत्यस्मिन्नवतीर्य महीतले

dvāparānteṣu viśvātmā viṣṇurviśvambharaḥ prabhuḥ | vyāsanāmnā caratyasminnavatīrya mahītale

at the end of each Dvapara age, Vishnu, the soul of the universe, the sustainer of all, the Lord, descends to this earth and moves about under the name Vyasa.

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.1.35)

एवं व्यस्ताश्च वेदाश्च द्वापरे द्वापरे द्विजाः । निर्मितानि पुराणानि अन्यानि च ततः परम्

evaṁ vyastāśca vedāśca dvāpare dvāpare dvijāḥ | nirmitāni purāṇāni anyāni ca tataḥ param

Thus, O twice-borns, in every Dvapara age the Vedas are divided, and the Puranas and other texts are composed thereafter.

Verse 36 (shiva.vayaviya.1.36)

स पुनर्द्वापरे चास्मिन्कृष्णद्वैपायनाख्यया । अरण्यामिव हव्याशी सत्यवत्यामजायत

sa punardvāpare cāsminkṛṣṇadvaipāyanākhyayā | araṇyāmiva havyāśī satyavatyāmajāyata

He again, in this Dvapara age, under the name Krishna Dvaipayana, was born of Satyavati — like fire born in a forest.

Verse 37 (shiva.vayaviya.1.37)

सङ्क्षिप्य स पुनर्वेदांश्चतुर्द्धा कृतवान्मुनिः । सङ्क्षिप्तान् स पुनर्देदान् चक्रेऽष्टादशधा मुनिः । व्यस्तवेदतया लोके वेदव्यास इति श्रुतः

saṁkṣipya sa punarvedāṁścaturddhā kṛtavānmuniḥ | saṁkṣiptān sa punardedān cakre'ṣṭādaśadhā muniḥ | vyastavedatayā loke vedavyāsa iti śrutaḥ

That sage, having condensed the Vedas, divided them into four; and having condensed further, he again arranged them into eighteen — because he thus divided the Veda, he is known in the world as Veda-Vyasa.

Verse 38 (shiva.vayaviya.1.38)

पुराणानां च सङ्क्षिप्तं चतुर्लक्षप्रमाणतः । अद्यापि देवलोके तच्छतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्

purāṇānāṁ ca saṁkṣiptaṁ caturlakṣapramāṇataḥ | adyāpi devaloke tacchatakoṭipravistaram

The condensed form of the Puranas numbers four hundred thousand verses; even now in the world of the gods that same text, in its extended form, numbers a hundred crore verses.

Verse 39 (shiva.vayaviya.1.39)

यो विद्याच्चतुरो वेदान् साङ्गोपनिषदो द्विजः । न चेत्पुराणं संविद्यान्नैव स स्याद्विचक्षणः

yo vidyāccaturo vedān sāṁgopaniṣado dvijaḥ | na cetpurāṇaṁ saṁvidyānnaiva sa syādvicakṣaṇaḥ

A twice-born who knows the four Vedas together with their Angas and Upanishads, if he does not also know the Purana, cannot be called learned.

Verse 40 (shiva.vayaviya.1.40)

इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां वेदं समुपबृंहयेत् । बिभेत्यल्पश्रुताद्वेदो मामयं प्रहरिष्यति

itihāsapurāṇābhyāṁ vedaṁ samupabṛṁhayet | bibhetyalpaśrutādvedo māmayaṁ prahariṣyati

One should strengthen the Veda with the Itihasas and Puranas; the Veda fears one of little learning, thinking, 'this one will do me harm.'

Verse 41 (shiva.vayaviya.1.41)

सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च । वंशानुचरितं चैव पुराणं पञ्चलक्षणम्

sargaśca pratisargaśca vaṁśo manvantarāṇi ca | vaṁśānucaritaṁ caiva purāṇaṁ pañcalakṣaṇam

Creation, re-creation, genealogy, the Manvantaras, and the accounts of the royal dynasties — these five characteristics define a Purana.

Verse 42 (shiva.vayaviya.1.42)

दशधा चाष्टधा चैतत्पुराणमुपदिश्यते । बृहत्सूक्ष्मप्रभेदेन मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववित्तमैः

daśadhā cāṣṭadhā caitatpurāṇamupadiśyate | bṛhatsūkṣmaprabhedena munibhistattvavittamaiḥ

This Purana is taught in ten ways, and also in eight, by the sages best versed in truth, according to the distinction of the extended and the abridged forms.

Verse 43 (shiva.vayaviya.1.43)

ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं भागवतं तथा । भविष्यं नारदीयं च मार्कण्डेयमतः परम्

brāhmaṁ pādmaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ ca śaivaṁ bhāgavataṁ tathā | bhaviṣyaṁ nāradīyaṁ ca mārkaṇḍeyamataḥ param

The Brahma, the Padma, the Vaishnava, and the Shaiva, likewise the Bhagavata, the Bhavishya, the Naradiya, and next the Markandeya —

Verse 44 (shiva.vayaviya.1.44)

आग्नेयं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं लैङ्गं वाराहमेव च । स्कान्दं च वामनं चैव कौर्मं मात्स्यं च गारुडम्

āgneyaṁ brahmavaivartaṁ laiṁgaṁ vārāhameva ca | skāndaṁ ca vāmanaṁ caiva kaurmaṁ mātsyaṁ ca gāruḍam

the Agneya, the Brahmavaivarta, the Linga, and the Varaha, the Skanda, the Vamana, the Kaurma, the Matsya, and the Garuda —

Verse 45 (shiva.vayaviya.1.45)

ब्रह्माण्डं चेति पुण्योऽयं पुराणानामनुक्रमः । तत्र शैवं तुरीयं यच्छार्वं सर्वार्थसाधकम्

brahmāṇḍaṁ ceti puṇyo'yaṁ purāṇānāmanukramaḥ | tatra śaivaṁ turīyaṁ yacchārvaṁ sarvārthasādhakam

and the Brahmanda — this is the sacred order of the Puranas. Among them, the Shaiva, the fourth, which belongs to Sharva (Shiva), accomplishes every end.

Verse 46 (shiva.vayaviya.1.46)

ग्रन्थो लक्षप्रमाणं तद्व्यस्तं द्वादशसंहितम् । निर्मितं तच्छिवेनैव तत्र धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः

grantho lakṣapramāṇaṁ tadvyastaṁ dvādaśasaṁhitam | nirmitaṁ tacchivenaiva tatra dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

That text, numbering a hundred thousand verses, divided into twelve Samhitas, was composed by Shiva himself; in it, dharma is firmly established.

Verse 47 (shiva.vayaviya.1.47)

तदुक्तेनैव धर्मेण शैवास्त्रैवर्णिका नराः । तस्माद्विमुक्तिमन्विच्छन् शिवमेव समाश्रयेत्

taduktenaiva dharmeṇa śaivāstraivarṇikā narāḥ | tasmādvimuktimanvicchan śivameva samāśrayet

By the very dharma taught therein, men of the three higher classes become devotees of Shiva; therefore one desiring liberation should take refuge in Shiva alone.

Verse 48 (shiva.vayaviya.1.48)

तमाश्रित्यैव देवानामपि मुक्तिर्न चान्यथा

tamāśrityaiva devānāmapi muktirna cānyathā

Taking refuge in him alone, liberation comes even for the gods, and not otherwise.

Verse 49 (shiva.vayaviya.1.49)

यदिदं शैवमाख्यातं पुराणं वेदसम्मितम् । तस्य भेदान्समासेन ब्रुवतो मे निबोधत

yadidaṁ śaivamākhyātaṁ purāṇaṁ vedasammitam | tasya bhedānsamāsena bruvato me nibodhata

Hear from me, as I briefly declare the divisions of this Shaiva Purana, proclaimed to be equal in authority to the Veda.

Verse 50 (shiva.vayaviya.1.50)

विद्येश्वरं तथा रौद्रं वैनायकमनुत्तमम् । औमं मातृपुराणं च रुद्रैकादशकं तथा

vidyeśvaraṁ tathā raudraṁ vaināyakamanuttamam | aumaṁ mātṛpurāṇaṁ ca rudraikādaśakaṁ tathā

The Vidyeshvara, likewise the Raudra, the unsurpassed Vainayaka, the Auma, the Matri-Purana, and likewise the Rudraikadasha —

Verse 51 (shiva.vayaviya.1.51)

कैलासं शतरुद्रं च कोटिरुद्राख्यमेव च । सहस्रकोटिरुद्राख्यं वायवीयं ततः परम्

kailāsaṁ śatarudraṁ ca koṭirudrākhyameva ca | sahasrakoṭirudrākhyaṁ vāyavīyaṁ tataḥ param

the Kailasa, the Shatarudra, that called Kotirudra, that called Sahasrakotirudra, and next the Vayaviya —

Verse 52 (shiva.vayaviya.1.52)

धर्मसंज्ञं पुराणं चेत्येवं द्वादश संहिताः । विद्येशं दशसाहस्रमुदितं ग्रन्थसङ्ख्यया

dharmasaṁjñaṁ purāṇaṁ cetyevaṁ dvādaśa saṁhitāḥ | vidyeśaṁ daśasāhasramuditaṁ granthasaṁkhyayā

and the Purana named Dharma — thus these are the twelve Samhitas. The Vidyesha Samhita is declared to number ten thousand verses.

Verse 53 (shiva.vayaviya.1.53)

रौद्रं वैनायकं चौमं मातृकाख्यं ततः परम् । प्रत्येकमष्टसाहस्रं त्रयोदशसहस्रकम्

raudraṁ vaināyakaṁ caumaṁ mātṛkākhyaṁ tataḥ param | pratyekamaṣṭasāhasraṁ trayodaśasahasrakam

The Raudra, the Vainayaka, and the Auma, and next the one called Matrika — each of these numbers eight thousand, and the Matrika thirteen thousand.

Verse 54 (shiva.vayaviya.1.54)

रौद्रकादशकाख्यं यत् कैलासं षट्सहस्रकम् । शतरुद्रं त्रिसाहस्रं कोटिरुद्रं ततः परम्

raudrakādaśakākhyaṁ yat kailāsaṁ ṣaṭsahasrakam | śatarudraṁ trisāhasraṁ koṭirudraṁ tataḥ param

That called the Rudraikadasha numbers six thousand, the Kailasa six thousand, the Shatarudra three thousand, and next the Kotirudra —

Verse 55 (shiva.vayaviya.1.55)

सहस्रैर्नवभिर्युक्तं सर्वार्थज्ञानसंयुतम् । सहस्रकोटिरुद्राख्यमेकादशसहस्रकम्

sahasrairnavabhiryuktaṁ sarvārthajñānasaṁyutam | sahasrakoṭirudrākhyamekādaśasahasrakam

joined with nine thousand, endowed with knowledge of every truth; that called Sahasrakotirudra numbers eleven thousand,

Verse 56 (shiva.vayaviya.1.56)

चतुस्सहस्रसङ्ख्येयं वायवीयमनुत्तमम् । धर्मसंज्ञं पुराणं यत्तद् द्वादशसहस्रकम्

catussahasrasaṁkhyeyaṁ vāyavīyamanuttamam | dharmasaṁjñaṁ purāṇaṁ yattad dvādaśasahasrakam

the unsurpassed Vayaviya is reckoned at four thousand, and the Purana named Dharma at twelve thousand.

Verse 57 (shiva.vayaviya.1.57)

तदेवं लक्षमुद्दिष्टं शैवं शाखाविभेदतः । पुराणं वेदसारं तद् भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्

tadevaṁ lakṣamuddiṣṭaṁ śaivaṁ śākhāvibhedataḥ | purāṇaṁ vedasāraṁ tad bhuktimuktiphalapradam

Thus in all, one hundred thousand verses are declared for the Shaiva Purana through its branching divisions — that Purana, the very essence of the Veda, bestows the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 58 (shiva.vayaviya.1.58)

व्यासेन तत्तु सङ्क्षिप्तं चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रकम् । शैवं तत्र पुराणं वै चतुर्थं सप्तसंहितम्

vyāsena tattu saṁkṣiptaṁ caturviṁśatsahasrakam | śaivaṁ tatra purāṇaṁ vai caturthaṁ saptasaṁhitam

That was condensed by Vyasa to twenty-four thousand verses; the Shaiva Purana there, the fourth among the Puranas, has seven Samhitas.

Verse 59 (shiva.vayaviya.1.59)

विद्येश्वराख्या तत्राद्या द्वितीया रुद्रसंहिता । तृतीया शतरुद्राख्या कोटिरुद्रा चतुर्थिका

vidyeśvarākhyā tatrādyā dvitīyā rudrasaṁhitā | tṛtīyā śatarudrākhyā koṭirudrā caturthikā

Among these, the first is called Vidyeshvara, the second the Rudra-Samhita, the third called Shatarudra, and the fourth the Kotirudra.

Verse 60 (shiva.vayaviya.1.60)

पञ्चमी कथिता चोमा षष्ठी कैलाससंहिता । सप्तमी वायवीयाख्या सप्तैवं संहिता इह

pañcamī kathitā comā ṣaṣṭhī kailāsasaṁhitā | saptamī vāyavīyākhyā saptaivaṁ saṁhitā iha

The fifth is told as the Uma Samhita, the sixth the Kailasa Samhita, and the seventh is called the Vayaviya — thus, seven Samhitas here.

Verse 61 (shiva.vayaviya.1.61)

विद्येश्वरं द्विसाहस्रं रौद्रं पञ्चशतायुतम् । त्रिंशत्तथा द्विसाहस्रं सार्द्धैकशतमीरितम्

vidyeśvaraṁ dvisāhasraṁ raudraṁ pañcaśatāyutam | triṁśattathā dvisāhasraṁ sārddhaikaśatamīritam

The Vidyeshvara is two thousand verses; the Raudra is declared as ten thousand five hundred thirty, and again two thousand one hundred and fifty,

Verse 62 (shiva.vayaviya.1.62)

शतरुद्रं तथा कोटिरुद्रं व्योमयुगाधिकम् । द्विसाहस्रं च द्विशतं तथौमं भूसहस्रकम्

śatarudraṁ tathā koṭirudraṁ vyomayugādhikam | dvisāhasraṁ ca dviśataṁ tathaumaṁ bhūsahasrakam

the Shatarudra and the Kotirudra together two thousand two hundred, and the Uma Samhita a thousand,

Verse 63 (shiva.vayaviya.1.63)

चत्वारिंशत्साष्टशतं कैलासं भूसहस्रकम् । चत्वारिंशच्च द्विशतं वायवीयमतः परम्

catvāriṁśatsāṣṭaśataṁ kailāsaṁ bhūsahasrakam | catvāriṁśacca dviśataṁ vāyavīyamataḥ param

the Kailasa a thousand eight hundred and forty, and the Vayaviya, thereafter, two hundred and forty [in its stated hundreds],

Verse 64 (shiva.vayaviya.1.64)

चतुस्साहस्रसङ्ख्याकमेवं सङ्ख्याविभेदतः । श्रुतं परमपुण्यं तु पुराणं शिवसंज्ञकम्

catussāhasrasaṁkhyākamevaṁ saṁkhyāvibhedataḥ | śrutaṁ paramapuṇyaṁ tu purāṇaṁ śivasaṁjñakam

thus, through this division of numbers, this supremely holy Purana named Shiva, numbering four thousand, has been heard.

Verse 65 (shiva.vayaviya.1.65)

चतुःसहस्रकं यत्तु वायवीयमुदीरितम् । तदिदं वर्त्तयिष्यामि भागद्वयसमन्वितम्

catuḥsahasrakaṁ yattu vāyavīyamudīritam | tadidaṁ varttayiṣyāmi bhāgadvayasamanvitam

That Vayaviya, declared to number four thousand verses, I shall now relate, comprising both its parts, the Purva-khanda and Uttara-khanda.

Verse 66 (shiva.vayaviya.1.66)

नावेदविदुषे वाच्यमिदं शास्त्रमनुत्तमम् । न चैवाश्रद्दधानाय नापुराणविदे तथा

nāvedaviduṣe vācyamidaṁ śāstramanuttamam | na caivāśraddadhānāya nāpurāṇavide tathā

This supreme scripture should not be told to one ignorant of the Veda, nor to one without faith, nor likewise to one unacquainted with the Puranas.

Verse 67 (shiva.vayaviya.1.67)

परीक्षिताय शिष्याय धार्मिकायानसूयवे । प्रदेयं शिवभक्ताय शिवधर्मानुसारिणे

parīkṣitāya śiṣyāya dhārmikāyānasūyave | pradeyaṁ śivabhaktāya śivadharmānusāriṇe

It should be given only to a tested disciple, righteous, free from envy, devoted to Shiva, and following the dharma of Shiva.

Verse 68 (shiva.vayaviya.1.68)

पुराणसंहिता यस्य प्रसादान्मयि वर्तते । नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे

purāṇasaṁhitā yasya prasādānmayi vartate | namo bhagavate tasmai vyāsāyāmitatejase

By whose grace this collection of the Purana abides in me — salutation to that blessed Vyasa, of measureless splendor.