The Greatness of the Glorious Shiva Mahapurana

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.76.1)

सूत उवाच । तत्र स्कन्दसरो नाम सरः सागरसन्निभम् । अमृतस्वादुशिशिरस्वच्छागाधलघूदकम्

sūta uvāca | tatra skandasaro nāma saraḥ sāgarasannibham | amṛtasvāduśiśirasvacchāgādhalaghūdakam

Suta said: There was a lake called Skandasaras, resembling the ocean, its water sweet as nectar, cool, clear, unfathomably deep, yet light to the taste,

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.76.2)

समन्ततः सङ्घटितं स्फटिकोपलसञ्चयैः । सर्वर्तुकुसुमैः फुल्लैश्छादिताखिलदिङ्मुखम्

samantataḥ saṅghaṭitaṃ sphaṭikopalasañcayaiḥ | sarvartukusumaiḥ phullaiśchāditākhiladiṅmukham

encircled on every side by masses of crystal stones, every quarter of it covered over with flowers blooming in every season,

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.76.3)

शैवलैरुत्पलैः पद्मैः कुमुदैस्तारकोपमैः । तरङ्गैरभ्रसङ्काशैराकाशमिव भूमिगम्

śaivalairutpalaiḥ padmaiḥ kumudaistārakopamaiḥ | taraṅgairabhrasaṅkāśairākāśamiva bhūmigam

with moss, blue lotuses, red lotuses, and white water-lilies resembling stars, its waves like clouds — it seemed the very sky come down to earth,

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.76.4)

सुखावतरणारोहैः स्थलैर्नीलशिलामयैः । सोपानमार्गौ रुचिरैः शोभमानाष्टदिङ्मुखम्

sukhāvataraṇārohaiḥ sthalairnīlaśilāmayaiḥ | sopānamārgau ruciraiḥ śobhamānāṣṭadiṅmukham

with places along its banks made of dark stone, offering easy descent and ascent, its lovely stairway-paths shining forth in all eight directions;

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.76.5)

तत्रावतीर्णैश्च यथा तत्रोत्तीर्णैश्च भूयसा । स्नातैः सितोपवीतैश्च शुक्लाकौपीनवल्कलैः

tatrāvatīrṇaiśca yathā tatrottīrṇaiśca bhūyasā | snātaiḥ sitopavītaiśca śuklākaupīnavalkalaiḥ

there, by those who had gone down into it, and, in even greater numbers, by those who had come up out of it after bathing — wearing white sacred threads, white loincloths and bark garments,

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.76.6)

जटाशिखायनैर्मुण्डैस्त्रिपुण्ड्रकृतमण्डनैः । विरागविवशस्मेरमुखैर्मुनिकुमारकैः

jaṭāśikhāyanairmuṇḍaistripuṇḍrakṛtamaṇḍanaiḥ | virāgavivaśasmeramukhairmunikumārakaiḥ

with matted locks tied in a crest, or shaven heads, adorned with the tripundra mark, their faces smiling in the helpless serenity of dispassion — it was thronged by young ascetic sages,

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.76.7)

घटैः कमलिनीपत्रपुटैश्च कलशैः शिवैः । कमण्डलुभिरन्यैश्च तादृशैः करकादिभिः

ghaṭaiḥ kamalinīpatrapuṭaiśca kalaśaiḥ śivaiḥ | kamaṇḍalubhiranyaiśca tādṛśaiḥ karakādibhiḥ

who came with pots, with cupped lotus-leaves, with auspicious jars, with water-pots, and with other such vessels,

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.76.8)

आत्मार्थं च परार्थं च देवतार्थं विशेषतः । आनीयमानसलिलमात्तपुष्पं च नित्यशः

ātmārthaṃ ca parārthaṃ ca devatārthaṃ viśeṣataḥ | ānīyamānasalilamāttapuṣpaṃ ca nityaśaḥ

bringing water for their own sake, for the sake of others, and especially for the sake of the gods, together with flowers gathered there, daily;

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.76.9)

अन्तर्जलशिलारूढैर्नीचानां स्पर्शशङ्कया । आचारवद्भिर्मुनिभिः कृतभस्माङ्गधूसरैः

antarjalaśilārūḍhairnīcānāṃ sparśaśaṅkayā | ācāravadbhirmunibhiḥ kṛtabhasmāṅgadhūsaraiḥ

the lake was thronged by sages of proper conduct who, out of concern for contact with the unworthy, stood upon rocks within the water itself, their bodies grey with the sacred ash they had applied,

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.76.10)

इतस्ततोऽप्सु मज्जद्भिरिष्टशिष्टैः शिलागतैः । तिलैश्च साक्षतैः पुष्पैस्त्यक्तदर्भपवित्रकैः

itastato'psu majjadbhiriṣṭaśiṣṭaiḥ śilāgataiḥ | tilaiśca sākṣataiḥ puṣpaistyaktadarbhapavitrakaiḥ

by the well-disciplined, plunging here and there into the water, resting upon its rocks, with sesame seeds, unbroken rice-grains, and flowers, having cast off their kusha-grass purification-rings after the rite,

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.76.11)

देवाद्यमृषिमध्यं च निर्वर्त्य पितृतर्पणम् । निवेदयेदभिज्ञेभ्यो नित्यस्नानगतान् द्विजान्

devādyamṛṣimadhyaṃ ca nirvartya pitṛtarpaṇam | nivedayedabhijñebhyo nityasnānagatān dvijān

who, having performed the offerings to the gods, sages, and ancestors in due order, would present this to those knowledgeable brahmins who had come there for their daily bath,

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.76.12)

स्थाने स्थाने कृतानेकबलिपुष्पसमीरणैः । सौरार्घ्यपूर्वं कुर्वद्भिः स्थण्डलेभ्यर्चनादिकम्

sthāne sthāne kṛtānekabalipuṣpasamīraṇaiḥ | saurārghyapūrvaṃ kurvadbhiḥ sthaṇḍalebhyarcanādikam

the lake's banks were also filled with those who, at place after place, performed manifold offerings and scattered flowers, who first made their sun-arghya offering and then performed worship upon improvised earthen altars —

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.76.13)

क्वचिन्निमज्जदुन्मज्जत्प्रस्रस्तगजयूथपम् । क्वचिच्च तृषयायातमृगीमृगतुरङ्गमम्

kvacinnimajjadunmajjatprasrastagajayūthapam | kvacicca tṛṣayāyātamṛgīmṛgaturaṅgamam

here a herd-leading elephant plunging in and rising up again, its limbs relaxed; and there a doe or a wild horse that had come, driven by thirst;

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.76.14)

क्वचित्पीतजनोत्तीर्णमयूरवरवारणम् । क्वचित्कृततटाघातवृषप्रतिवृषोज्ज्वलम्

kvacitpītajanottīrṇamayūravaravāraṇam | kvacitkṛtataṭāghātavṛṣaprativṛṣojjvalam

here a splendid peacock that had drunk and stepped out again; there rival bulls, resplendent as they struck the bank in challenge against one another;

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.76.15)

क्वचित्कारण्डवरवैः क्वचित्सारसकूजितैः । क्वचिच्च कोकनिनदैः क्वचिद्भ्रमरगीतिभिः

kvacitkāraṇḍavaravaiḥ kvacitsārasakūjitaiḥ | kvacicca kokaninadaiḥ kvacidbhramaragītibhiḥ

here with the cries of fine karandava ducks, there with the calls of cranes; here with the honking of chakravaka geese, there with the humming songs of bees;

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.76.16)

स्नानपानादिकरणैः स्वसम्पद्द्रुमजीविभिः । प्रणयात्प्राणिभिस्तैस्तैर्भाषमाणमिवासकृत्

snānapānādikaraṇaiḥ svasampaddrumajīvibhiḥ | praṇayātprāṇibhistaistairbhāṣamāṇamivāsakṛt

it seemed, again and again, as if the lake were conversing, out of affection, with those very creatures — those who lived off the trees that were its own wealth, as they came to bathe and drink there;

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.76.17)

कूलशाखिशिखालीनकोकिलाकुलकूजितैः । आतपोपहतान् सर्वान्नामन्त्रयदिवानिशम्

kūlaśākhiśikhālīnakokilākulakūjitaiḥ | ātapopahatān sarvānnāmantrayadivāniśam

with the confused cooing of cuckoos perched in the treetops along its banks, it seemed, day and night, as if it were calling out and inviting in all those who had been afflicted by the heat.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.76.18)

उत्तरे तस्य सरसस्तीरे कल्पतरोरधः । वेद्यां वज्रशिलामय्यां मृदुले मृगचर्मणि

uttare tasya sarasastīre kalpataroradhaḥ | vedyāṃ vajraśilāmayyāṃ mṛdule mṛgacarmaṇi

On the northern shore of that lake, beneath a wish-fulfilling tree, upon an altar made of diamond-stone, on a soft deerskin,

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.76.19)

सनत्कुमारमासीनं शश्वद्बालवपुर्धरम् । तत्कालमात्रोपरतं समाधेरचलात्मनः

sanatkumāramāsīnaṃ śaśvadbālavapurdharam | tatkālamātroparataṃ samādheracalātmanaḥ

sat Sanatkumara, ever bearing the form of a child, his self unmoving, just then having arisen from his motionless meditation,

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.76.20)

उपास्यमानं मुनिभिर्योगीन्द्रैरपि पूजितम् । ददृशुर्नैमिषेयास्ते प्रणताश्चोपतस्थिरे

upāsyamānaṃ munibhiryogīndrairapi pūjitam | dadṛśurnaimiṣeyāste praṇatāścopatasthire

being attended upon by sages and worshipped even by the great lords of Yoga — thus did those Naimisha sages behold him, and, bowing, they came and stood before him.

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.76.21)

यावत्पृष्टवते तस्मै प्रोचुः स्वागतकारणम् । तुमुलः शुश्रुवे तावद्दिवि दुन्दुभिनिःस्वनः

yāvatpṛṣṭavate tasmai procuḥ svāgatakāraṇam | tumulaḥ śuśruve tāvaddivi dundubhiniḥsvanaḥ

Just as they were telling him, in answer to his question, the reason for their arrival, at that very moment a tumultuous sound of kettledrums was heard in the sky.

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.76.22)

ददृशे तत्क्षणे तस्मिन् विमानं भानुसन्निभम् । गणेश्वरैरसङ्ख्येयैः संवृतं च समन्ततः

dadṛśe tatkṣaṇe tasmin vimānaṃ bhānusannibham | gaṇeśvarairasaṅkhyeyaiḥ saṃvṛtaṃ ca samantataḥ

At that same instant, a heavenly chariot resembling the sun was seen there, surrounded on every side by countless lords of Shiva's hosts,

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.76.23)

अप्सरोगणसङ्कीर्णं रुद्रकन्याभिरावृतम् । मृदङ्गमुरजोद्घुष्टं वेणुवीणारवान्वितम्

apsarogaṇasaṅkīrṇaṃ rudrakanyābhirāvṛtam | mṛdaṅgamurajodghuṣṭaṃ veṇuvīṇāravānvitam

thronged with hosts of apsarases, encircled by the daughters of the Rudras, resounding with the beat of mridangas and murajas, and joined with the music of flutes and vinas,

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.76.24)

चित्ररत्नवितानाढ्यं मुक्तादामविराजितम् । मुनिभिः सिद्धगन्धर्वैर्यक्षचारणकिन्नरैः

citraratnavitānāḍhyaṃ muktādāmavirājitam | munibhiḥ siddhagandharvairyakṣacāraṇakinnaraiḥ

rich with a canopy of many-colored jewels, resplendent with garlands of pearls, and thronged with sages, siddhas, gandharvas, yakshas, charanas, and kinnaras,

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.76.25)

नृत्यद्भिश्चैव गायद्भिर्वादयद्भिश्च संवृतम् । वीरगोवृषचिह्नेन विद्रमद्रुमयष्टिना

nṛtyadbhiścaiva gāyadbhirvādayadbhiśca saṃvṛtam | vīragovṛṣacihnena vidramadrumayaṣṭinā

surrounded by them as they danced, sang, and played their instruments — marked with the emblem of the heroic bull, adorned with a staff of coral-wood,

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.76.26)

कृतगोपुरसत्कारं केतुना मान्यहेतुना । तस्य मध्ये विमानस्य चामरद्वितयान्तरे

kṛtagopurasatkāraṃ ketunā mānyahetunā | tasya madhye vimānasya cāmaradvitayāntare

its gateway-towers duly adorned, made resplendent by its banner, the very cause of its own honor — and, in the middle of that heavenly chariot, between a pair of yak-tail fly-whisks,

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.76.27)

छत्त्रस्य मणिदण्डस्य चन्द्रस्येव शुचेरधः । दिव्यसिंहासनारूढं देव्या सुयशया सह

chattrasya maṇidaṇḍasya candrasyeva śuceradhaḥ | divyasiṃhāsanārūḍhaṃ devyā suyaśayā saha

beneath a jeweled-handled parasol white as the moon, mounted upon a divine lion-throne, together with the Goddess of fair renown,

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.76.28)

श्रिया च वपुषा चैव त्रिभिश्चापि विलोचनैः । प्राकारैरभिकृत्यानां प्रत्यभिज्ञापकं प्रभोः

śriyā ca vapuṣā caiva tribhiścāpi vilocanaiḥ | prākārairabhikṛtyānāṃ pratyabhijñāpakaṃ prabhoḥ

who, by his splendor, by his very form, and by his three eyes, together with the marks that distinguish him, made himself recognizable as the Lord himself,

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.76.29)

अविलङ्घ्य जगत्कर्तुराज्ञापनमिवागतम् । सर्वानुग्रहणं शम्भोः साक्षादिव पुरःस्थितम्

avilaṅghya jagatkarturājñāpanamivāgatam | sarvānugrahaṇaṃ śambhoḥ sākṣādiva puraḥsthitam

who had come as though bearing the inviolable command of the Maker of the universe, standing there as if in person, embodying Shambhu's grace toward all beings,

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.76.30)

शिलादतनयं साक्षाच्छ्रीमच्छूलवरायुधम् । विश्वेश्वरगणाध्यक्षं विश्वेश्वरमिवापरम्

śilādatanayaṃ sākṣācchrīmacchūlavarāyudham | viśveśvaragaṇādhyakṣaṃ viśveśvaramivāparam

this was the very son of Shilada in person, bearing the glorious trident as his supreme weapon, the overseer of the hosts of the Lord of the universe — appearing like a second Lord of the universe himself,

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.76.31)

विश्वस्यापि विधातॄणां निग्रहानुग्रहक्षमम् । चतुर्बाहुमुदाराङ्गं चन्द्ररेखाविभूषितम्

viśvasyāpi vidhātṝṇāṃ nigrahānugrahakṣamam | caturbāhumudārāṅgaṃ candrarekhāvibhūṣitam

capable of restraining or favoring even the ordainers of the universe, four-armed, of noble form, adorned with the crescent of the moon,

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.76.32)

कण्ठे नागेन मौलौ च शशाङ्केनाप्यलङ्कृतम् । सविग्रहमिवैश्वर्यं सामर्थ्यमिव सक्रियम्

kaṇṭhe nāgena maulau ca śaśāṅkenāpyalaṅkṛtam | savigrahamivaiśvaryaṃ sāmarthyamiva sakriyam

adorned with a serpent at his throat and, upon his crown, with the moon as well — he appeared like sovereignty itself embodied, like capability itself made active,

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.76.33)

समाप्तमिव निर्वाणं सर्वज्ञमिव सङ्गतम् । दृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टवदनो ब्रह्मपुत्रः सहर्षिभिः

samāptamiva nirvāṇaṃ sarvajñamiva saṅgatam | dṛṣṭvā prahṛṣṭavadano brahmaputraḥ saharṣibhiḥ

like liberation itself fully accomplished, like omniscience itself given form. Seeing him, the son of Brahma, his face filled with joy, together with the sages,

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.76.34)

तस्थौ प्राञ्जलिरुत्थाय तस्यात्मानमिवार्पयन् । अथ तत्रान्तरे तस्मिन्विमाने चावनिं गते

tasthau prāñjalirutthāya tasyātmānamivārpayan | atha tatrāntare tasminvimāne cāvaniṃ gate

rose up and stood with joined palms, as though offering his very self to him. Then, meanwhile, that heavenly chariot having come down to the earth,

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.76.35)

प्रणम्य दण्डवद्देवं स्तुत्वा व्यज्ञापयन्मुनीम् । षट्कुलीया इमे दीर्घं नैमिषे सत्रमास्थिताः । आगता ब्रह्मणादिष्टाः पूर्वमेवाभिकाङ्क्षया

praṇamya daṇḍavaddevaṃ stutvā vyajñāpayanmunīm | ṣaṭkulīyā ime dīrghaṃ naimiṣe satramāsthitāḥ | āgatā brahmaṇādiṣṭāḥ pūrvamevābhikāṅkṣayā

they bowed to that god, prostrate like a staff, and, having praised him, informed the sage: 'These sages of the six lineages, who had long been engaged in a sacrificial session at Naimisha, have come here, sent by Brahma, having already for a long time held this desire.'

Verse 36 (shiva.vayaviya.76.36)

श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ब्रह्मपुत्रस्य नन्दी छित्त्वा पाशान्दृष्टिपातेन सद्यः । शैवं धर्मं चैश्वरं ज्ञानयोगं दत्त्वा भूयो देवपार्श्वं जगाम

śrutvā vākyaṃ brahmaputrasya nandī chittvā pāśāndṛṣṭipātena sadyaḥ | śaivaṃ dharmaṃ caiśvaraṃ jñānayogaṃ dattvā bhūyo devapārśvaṃ jagāma

Having heard the words of Brahma's son, Nandi, cutting away their bonds at once with a mere glance, and having given them the Shaiva dharma and the Yoga of knowledge of the Lord, went again to the side of the God.

Verse 37 (shiva.vayaviya.76.37)

सनत्कुमारेण च तत्समस्तं व्यासाय साक्षाद्गुरवे ममोक्तम् । व्यासेन चोक्तं महितेन मह्यं मया च तद्वः कथितं समासात्

sanatkumāreṇa ca tatsamastaṃ vyāsāya sākṣādgurave mamoktam | vyāsena coktaṃ mahitena mahyaṃ mayā ca tadvaḥ kathitaṃ samāsāt

And by Sanatkumara that entire teaching was told to Vyasa, my very own teacher in person; and by the illustrious Vyasa it was told to me; and by me it has now been told to you, in summary.

Verse 38 (shiva.vayaviya.76.38)

नावेदविद्भ्यः कथनीयमेतत् पुराणरत्नं पुरशासनस्य । नाभक्तशिष्याय च नास्तिकेभ्यो दत्तं हि मोहान्निरयं ददाति

nāvedavidbhyaḥ kathanīyametat purāṇaratnaṃ puraśāsanasya | nābhaktaśiṣyāya ca nāstikebhyo dattaṃ hi mohānnirayaṃ dadāti

This jewel among the Puranas, belonging to the Lord of the three cities, must not be told to those ignorant of the Veda; if given, out of delusion, to an unbelieving disciple, or to atheists, it delivers only hell.

Verse 39 (shiva.vayaviya.76.39)

मार्गेण सेवानुगतेन यैस्तद् दत्तं गृहीतं पठितं श्रुतं वा । तेभ्यः सुखं धर्ममुखं त्रिवर्गं निर्वाणमन्ते नियतं ददाति

mārgeṇa sevānugatena yaistad dattaṃ gṛhītaṃ paṭhitaṃ śrutaṃ vā | tebhyaḥ sukhaṃ dharmamukhaṃ trivargaṃ nirvāṇamante niyataṃ dadāti

But to those by whom, following the proper path of service, it is given, received, recited, or heard, it grants happiness, and the threefold aim of life headed by dharma, and, in the end, liberation itself, without fail.

Verse 40 (shiva.vayaviya.76.40)

परस्परस्योपकृतं भवद्भि र्मया च पौराणिकमार्गयोगात् । अतो गमिष्येऽहमवाप्तकामः समस्तमेवास्तु शिवं सदा नः

parasparasyopakṛtaṃ bhavadbhi rmayā ca paurāṇikamārgayogāt | ato gamiṣye'hamavāptakāmaḥ samastamevāstu śivaṃ sadā naḥ

By this connection through the path of the Purana, a mutual service has been done — by you and by me. Therefore I shall now depart, my purpose fulfilled. May everything always be auspicious for us all.

Verse 41 (shiva.vayaviya.76.41)

सूते कृताशिषि गते मुनयः सुवृत्ता यागे च पर्यवसिते महति प्रयोगे । काले कलौ च विषयैः कलुषायमाणे वाराणसीपरिसरे वसतिं विनेतुः

sūte kṛtāśiṣi gate munayaḥ suvṛttā yāge ca paryavasite mahati prayoge | kāle kalau ca viṣayaiḥ kaluṣāyamāṇe vārāṇasīparisare vasatiṃ vinetuḥ

When Suta, having pronounced his blessing, had departed, and when the great rite of the sacrifice had come to its end, the sages of good conduct, as the Kali Age drew on, growing turbid with worldly desires, took up their dwelling in the vicinity of Varanasi —

Verse 42 (shiva.vayaviya.76.42)

अथ च ते पशुपाशमुमुक्षया\- खिलतया कृतपाशुपतव्रताः । अधिकृताखिलबोधसमाधयः परमनिर्वृतिमापुरनिन्दिताः

atha ca te paśupāśamumukṣayā\- khilatayā kṛtapāśupatavratāḥ | adhikṛtākhilabodhasamādhayaḥ paramanirvṛtimāpuraninditāḥ

and there, out of a wish to be wholly freed from the bonds of their bound-soul nature, having undertaken the Pashupata vow in its entirety, devoted to the meditation that grants complete awakening, they, blameless, attained the supreme bliss of liberation.

Verse 43 (shiva.vayaviya.76.43)

व्यास उवाच । एतच्छिवपुराणं हि समाप्तं हितमादरात् । पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन श्रोतव्यं च तथैव हि

vyāsa uvāca | etacchivapurāṇaṃ hi samāptaṃ hitamādarāt | paṭhitavyaṃ prayatnena śrotavyaṃ ca tathaiva hi

Vyasa said: This Shiva Purana is now complete — beneficial, to be approached with reverence; it should be read with diligence, and likewise it should be heard.

Verse 44 (shiva.vayaviya.76.44)

नास्तिकाय न वक्तव्यमश्रद्धाय शठाय च । अभक्ताय महेशस्य तथा धर्मध्वजाय च

nāstikāya na vaktavyamaśraddhāya śaṭhāya ca | abhaktāya maheśasya tathā dharmadhvajāya ca

It must not be told to an atheist, to one without faith, to a deceitful person, to one who is not a devotee of Mahesha, or likewise to a hypocrite who merely parades religion.

Verse 45 (shiva.vayaviya.76.45)

एतच्छ्रुत्या ह्येकवारं भवेत् पापं हि भस्मसात् । अभक्तो भक्तिमाप्नोति भक्तो भक्तिसमृद्धिभाक्

etacchrutyā hyekavāraṃ bhavet pāpaṃ hi bhasmasāt | abhakto bhaktimāpnoti bhakto bhaktisamṛddhibhāk

By hearing this even a single time, sin is reduced to ashes; the non-devotee obtains devotion, and the devotee comes to share in the abundance of devotion.

Verse 46 (shiva.vayaviya.76.46)

पुनः श्रुते च सद्भक्तिर्मुक्तिः स्याच्च श्रुतेः पुनः । तस्मात् पुनःपुनश्चैव श्रोतव्यं हि मुमुक्षुभिः

punaḥ śrute ca sadbhaktirmuktiḥ syācca śruteḥ punaḥ | tasmāt punaḥpunaścaiva śrotavyaṃ hi mumukṣubhiḥ

Upon hearing it again, true devotion arises; and upon hearing it yet again, liberation itself follows. Therefore it should be heard again and again by those who seek liberation.

Verse 47 (shiva.vayaviya.76.47)

पञ्चावृत्तिः प्रकर्तव्या पुराणस्यास्य सद्धिया । परं फलं समुद्दिश्य तत्प्राप्नोति न संशयः

pañcāvṛttiḥ prakartavyā purāṇasyāsya saddhiyā | paraṃ phalaṃ samuddiśya tatprāpnoti na saṃśayaḥ

Five complete recitations of this Purana should be undertaken by one of good understanding; aiming at the supreme fruit, he obtains it — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 48 (shiva.vayaviya.76.48)

पुरातनाश्च राजानो विप्रा वैश्याश्च सत्तमाः । सप्तकृत्वस्तदावृत्त्यालभन्त शिवदर्शनम्

purātanāśca rājāno viprā vaiśyāśca sattamāḥ | saptakṛtvastadāvṛttyālabhanta śivadarśanam

Kings, brahmins, and the most excellent of vaishyas in ancient times obtained the vision of Shiva through seven such recitations of it.

Verse 49 (shiva.vayaviya.76.49)

श्रोष्यत्यथापि यश्चेदं मानवो भक्तितत्परः । इहभुक्त्वाखिलान् भोगानन्ते मुक्तिंलभेच्च सः

śroṣyatyathāpi yaścedaṃ mānavo bhaktitatparaḥ | ihabhuktvākhilān bhogānante muktiṃlabhecca saḥ

And whatever man, devoted to devotion, shall hear this in the future, he too, having enjoyed every pleasure in this life, shall at the end attain liberation.

Verse 50 (shiva.vayaviya.76.50)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि शिवस्यातिप्रियं परम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं ब्रह्मसम्मितं भक्तिवर्धनम्

etacchivapurāṇaṃ hi śivasyātipriyaṃ param | bhuktimuktipradaṃ brahmasammitaṃ bhaktivardhanam

This Shiva Purana is indeed exceedingly, supremely dear to Shiva himself; it grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation, is equal in worth to the Veda itself, and increases devotion.

Verse 51 (shiva.vayaviya.76.51)

एतच्छिवपुराणस्य वक्तुः श्रोतुश्च सर्वदा । सगणः ससुतः साम्बः शं करोतु स शङ्करः

etacchivapurāṇasya vaktuḥ śrotuśca sarvadā | sagaṇaḥ sasutaḥ sāmbaḥ śaṃ karotu sa śaṅkaraḥ

May that Shankara, together with his hosts, his son, and Amba, ever grant well-being to both the speaker and the hearer of this Shiva Purana.