The fundamentals of karma

नन्दीकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णने ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः

 

Brahmani's attainment of heaven description in Nandikeshwara Linga importance description Chapter 6

 

वत्स उवाच |

 

Calf said (to the cow, his mother)

 

किं कर्तव्यं क्व गन्तव्यं कर्मबद्धा वयं यतः |
कृतं चैव यथा पूर्वं भुज्यतं च तथाऽधुना || 12 ||
हसता क्रियते कर्म रुदता परिभुज्यते |
दुःखदाता न कोप्यस्ति सुखदाता न कश्चन || 13 ||
सुखदुःखे परो दत्त इत्येषा कुमतिर्मता |
अहं चापि करोम्यत्र मिथ्याज्ञानं तदोच्यते || 14 ||

What to do, where to go, since we are bound by karma? And the way (karma has been) done in the past, accordingly has to be enjoyed/suffered now.
Karma is done laughing/smiling, (its fruits are) suffered crying. No one is the giver of sorrow/unhappiness, nobody is the giver of happiness.
That someone has given happiness or sorrow is considered bad thinking. And that "I am doing here" is then called fake (false) knowledge.

River Mandakini comes into existence

सूत उवाच |

 

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

 

तद्दिनं हि समारभ्य तत्राक्षयजलं सदा |

हस्तमात्रे हि तद्गर्ते गङ्गा मन्दाकिनी ह्यभूत् || 57 ||

 

Starting from that day, there the permanently undwindling water in that pit, the size of a hand, Ganga became (river) Mandakini.

Anasuya said (to Goddess Ganga)

अनसूयोवाच |

Anasuya said (to Goddess Ganga)

यदि प्रसन्ना देवेशि यद्यस्ति च कृपा मयि |

त्वया स्थेयं निश्चलत्वादस्मिन्देवि तपोवने || 39 ||

Goddess of the Devas, if you are pleased, if you have mercy on me, Goddess, you have to stay here permanently in this penance forest.

Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness description

अत्रीश्वरमाहत्म्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः 

Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness description Chapter 4

गङ्गोवाच |

Ganga (river in the form of a woman) said (to Anasuya)

स्वामिनः सेवनं दृष्ट्वा शिवस्य च परात्मनः |

साध्वि धर्मं च ते दृष्ट्वा स्थितास्मि तव संनिधौ || 9 ||

Having seen your service to your husband, and to the supreme soul Shiva, and having seen your behaviour as an ascetic, I have (had) stayed here in your vicinity (although it has not rained for the last 54 years).

Lord Shiva is worshipped everywhere, including by Devas, demons and humans.

कोटिरुद्रसंहितायां ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः 

Kotirudra Samhita, Jyotirlinga importance description Chapter 1

सूत उवाच |

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

सर्वेषां शिवलिङ्गानां मुने संख्या न विद्यते |

सर्वा लिङ्गमयी भूमिः सर्वं लिङ्गमयं जगत् || 9 ||

Sage, one cannot count all the Shivalingas. The earth is (subtly of the same element) as Shivalinga; the world is (subtly of the same element) as Shivalinga.

पाताले चापि वर्तन्ते स्वर्गे चापि तथा भुवि |

सर्वत्र पूज्यते शंभुः सदेवासुरमानुषैः || 13 ||

Like on the earth, (Shivalingas) exist also in the lowest world (Patala), and also in the heaven. Lord Shiva is worshipped everywhere, including by Devas, demons and humans.

Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिम्शोऽध्यायः

Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description Chapter 42

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

केदारो हिमवत्पृष्ठे डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करः |
वाराणस्यां च विश्वेशस्त्र्यंबको गौतमीतटे || 2 ||

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथश्च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनः |
उज्जयिन्यां महाकाल ओंकारे चामरेश्वरः || 3 ||

वैद्यनाथश्चिताभूमौ नागेशो दारुकावने |
सेतुबन्धे च रामेशो घुश्मेशश्च शिवालये || 4 ||

अवतारद्वादशकमेतच्छम्भोः परात्मनः |
सर्वानन्दकरं पुंसां दर्शनात्स्पर्शनान्मुने || 5 ||

Kedara on the side of the Himalaya, Bhimashankara in Dakini, Vishweshwara in Varanasi, Tryambakeshwara on the bank of Gautami (river). Somanath in Saurashtra, Mallikarjuna on Shree Shaila mountain, Mahakala in Ujjayini (Ujjain), Amareshwara at Omkara (Omkarnath).
Vaidyanath on cremation land, Nagesha in Daruka forest, Rameshwara at the Setubandha (bridge building site), Ghushmeshwara in Shivalaya. Sage, these twelve incarnations of the supreme soul Shiva (give) all joy to people by darshan (sight) or by touch.

The three verses in common use are as follows.

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् |
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोम्कारं ममलेश्वरम् ||

परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् |
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ||

वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे |
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं तु शिवालये ||

Neither set of verses are in the same order of Jyotirlingas as the numbering given in Chapter 42, where the first four are as in this set of verses, but Kedarnath is the fifth, Bhimashankara sixth,
Vishweshwara seventh, Tryambakeshwara eighth, Vaidyanath ninth, Nageshwara tenth, Rameshwara eleventh, and Ghushmeshwara twelvth.

Then in the first chapter of Kotirudra Samhita, Suta tells the sages the following three verses.

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् |
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोम्कारे परमेश्वरम् || 21 ||

केदारो हिमवत्पृष्ठे डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् |
वाराणस्यां च विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे || 22 ||

वैद्यनाथं चिताभूमौ नागेशं दारुकावने |
सेतुबन्धे च रामेशं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये || 23 ||

This looks like a combination of the above two versions.

शिवावतारः सोमेशो लिङ्गरूपेण संस्थितः |
सौराष्ट्रे शुभदेशे च शशिना पूजितः पुरा || 7 ||

चन्द्रकुण्डं च तत्रैव सर्वपापविनाशकम् |
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो धीमान्सर्वरोगैः प्रमुच्यते || 8 ||

The Somesha (Somnath) incarnation of Shiva was established in the form of a Linga in the auspicious land of Saurashtra, and was worshipped by the moon in the past.

विश्वेश्वरावतारस्तु काश्यां जातो हि सप्तमः |
सर्वब्रह्माण्डरुपश्च भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदो मुने || 30 ||

Sage, the Vishweshwara incarnation born in Kashi (is) the seventh, in the form of the whole universe and giver of enjoyments as well as liberation.

त्र्यंबकाख्योऽवतारो यः सोऽष्टमो गौतमीतटे |
प्रार्थितो गौतमेनाविर्बभूव शशिमौलिनः || 34 ||

The incarnation of Shiva called Tryambaka which is the eighth, appeared on the bank of the river Gautami, prayed by sage Gautama.

रामेश्वरावतारस्तु शिवस्यैकादशः स्मृतः |
रामचन्द्रप्रियकरो रामसंस्थापितो मुने || 46 ||

Rameshwara incarnation is considered the eleventh (incarnation) of Shiva. (On worshipping, it makes one) favourite of Lord Rama. Sage, (it was) established by Lord Rama.

Lord Shiva to Arjuna

किरातेश्वरावतारवर्णनं नामैकचत्वारिम्शोऽध्यायः
Kirateshwara (tribal) incarnation description Chapter 41
शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to Arjuna)
कृष्णं च कथयिष्यामि साहाय्यं ते करिष्यति |
स वै ममात्मभूतश्च मद्भक्तः कार्यकारकः || 57 ||
And I will tell Lord Krishna. He will assist you. He is faithful to me
and is my devotee, (who) does my work.

Muka demon killing in tribal incarnation description Chapter 39

किरातावतारवर्णने मूकदैत्यवधो नामैकोनचत्वारिम्शोऽध्यायः

Muka demon killing in tribal incarnation description Chapter 39

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said (actually only thinks in his mind, does not speak this)

तन्नामस्मरणात्पुंसां कल्याणं जायते ध्रुवं || 33 ||

By remembering that name (of Lord Shiva), good occurs to people certainly.

Lord Shiva gets very pleased by devotion

व्यास उवाच |

Sage Vyasa said (to the Pandavas)

सर्वेषां चैव सेव्योऽसौ शङ्करः सर्वदुःखहा |

शिवः स्वल्पेन कालेन सम्प्रसीदति भक्तितः || 57 || 

सुप्रसन्नो महेशो हि भक्तेभ्यः सकलप्रदः |

भुक्तिं मुक्तिमिहामुत्र यच्छतीति सुनिश्चितम् || 58 ||

तस्मात्सेव्यः सदा शम्भुर्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलेप्सुभिः |

पुरुषः शङ्करः साक्षाद्दुष्टहन्ता सतां गतिः || 59 ||

This Lord Shiva, worshiped by everybody (is the) destroyer of all sorrow. Lord Shiva, in a short time gets very pleased by devotion. When very pleased, the great God really gives everything to the devotees – definitely gives enjoyments, liberation, here (on the earth) or in the other worlds. Therefore, Lord Shiva should be worshiped by those who desire enjoyments or liberation. Lord Shiva is the God (Purusha, not Prakriti), directly the killer of evil people and uplifter of good people.

********** Our wishes to all readers of Shiva Maha Purana Saar Shreni blog, of the blissful festival night: Maha Shiv Ratri **********

Om Namah Shivaya

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

पञ्चाक्षरं जपन्मन्त्रं शिवप्रेमसमाकुलः |
तेजसां च स्वयं राशिः साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः || 23 ||

Tormented by the love for Lord Shiva, chanting the five-lettered
mantra (Om Namah Shivaya), (Sage Vyasa) himself being a symbol of
brilliance, like another Dharma in visible form.

Sage Vyasa's advice description during tribal incarnation

किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसङ्गेऽर्जुनाय व्यासोपदेशवर्णनं नाम सप्तत्रिम्शोऽध्यायः

Sage Vyasa's advice description during tribal incarnation description Chapter 37

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच |

Lord Krishna said (to Pandavas)

इदानीं सेव्यते देवो भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदः |
यूयं सेवत तं शंभुमपि सर्वसुखावाहम् || 16 ||

Now God, the giver of enjoyments and liberation as fruits, should be
served/worshipped. You all serve/worship that Lord Shambhu, (who
makes) everything comfortable.

Lord Rudra took birth as Ashwatthama, son of Dronacharya

अश्वत्थामशिवावतारवर्णनं नाम षट्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Ashwatthama incarnation of Lord Shiva Chapter 36

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

अथावसरमासाद्य रुद्रः सर्वान्तकः प्रभुः |
स्वांशेन तनयो जज्ञे द्रोणस्य स महाबलः || 13 ||
अश्वत्थामेति विख्यातः स बभूव क्षितौ मुने | 14

At the proper moment, Lord Rudra, the destroyer of everything (in
Mahapralaya), with a small part of himself took birth as a son of
Dronacharya, of great strength. He became famous as Ashwatthama on the
earth.

Who bears sin on the earth?

गिरिजोवाच |

Parvati said (to her friend Vijayaa)

न केवलं भवेत्पापं निन्दाकर्तुः शिवस्य हि |
यो वै शृणोति तन्निन्दां पापभाक्स भवेदिह || 49 ||
शिवनिन्दाकरो वध्यः सर्वथा शिवकिङ्करैः |
ब्राह्मणश्चेत्स वै त्याज्यो गन्तव्यं तत्स्थालाद्द्रुतम् || 50 ||

Not only the one who criticises Lord Shiva commits a sin, those who
listen to that criticism also bear the sin on the earth.

These two shlokas also appeared as shlokas 37 and 38 in Chapter 28 of
Parvati block of Rudra Samhita. Chapters 26 to 28 of Parvati block of
Rudra Samhita have several common shlokas with this chapter.

Merit annihilated when a man criticises Lord Shiva

ब्रह्मचारिशिवावतारवर्णनं नाम त्रयत्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Brahmachari Shiva avatara description Chapter 33

गिरिजोवाच |

Parvati said (to Brahmachari incarnation of Lord Shiva)

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण कश्चित्त्वं धूर्त आगतः |
शिवनिन्दा कृता मूढ त्वया मन्युरभून्मम || 39 ||

Some rogue, you have come in the form of a Brahmachari (a celibate).
Fool, criticism of Lord Shiva done by you caused my anger/sorrow.

शिवनिन्दां करोतीह तत्त्वमज्ञाय यः पुमान् |
आजन्मसञ्चितं पुण्यं तस्य भस्मीभवत्युत || 41 ||

Of a man who criticises Lord Shiva on the earth, (even if) not knowing
the element, all the punya (merit) collected by him during his
(present) life turns to ash (gets destroyed).

Give your highest devotion, divine and pure

उपमन्युरुवाच |

Upamanyu said (to God)

प्रसीद देवदेवेश प्रसीद परमेश्वर |
स्वभक्तिं देहि परमां दिव्यामव्यभिचारिणीम् || 65 ||

Be pleased, God of the Devas, be pleased, Supreme God. Give your
highest devotion, divine and pure.

Lord Shiva to Upamanyu

शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to Upamanyu)
पिताऽहं ते महादेवो माता ते जगदम्बिका |
वरान्वरय सुप्रीत्या मनोभिलषितान्परान् || 55 ||
I am your father, the Great God, your mother is the Mother of the
world (Parvati). Ask for a boon with good love, above what (your) mind
desires.

Upamanyu to Sureshwara avatara – Lord Shiva posing as Indra

उपमन्युरुवाच |
Upamanyu said (to Sureshwara avatara – Lord Shiva posing as Indra)
त्वं न जानासि वै रुद्रं सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वरम् |
ब्रह्माविष्णुमहेशानां जनकं प्रकृते परम् || 30 ||
You do not know the Lord Rudra, the God of all Devas and Gods, father
of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha, above Prakriti (Maya).
नास्ति शंभोः परं तत्त्वं सर्वकारणकारणं |
ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिदेवानां श्रेष्ठो गुणपराद्विभोः || 33 ||
There is no element superior to Lord Shiva, the cause of all causes,
the best of Brahma, Vishnu, etc., and all Devas, the Lord (who is)
above characteristics (of nature: Sattva, Rajas, Tamas).

Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32

सुरेश्वराख्य शिवावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32

मातोवाच |

(Upamanyu's) mother said (to him who wanted genuine milk)

पूर्वजन्मनि यत्कृत्यं शिवमुद्दिश्य हे सुत |
तदेव लभ्यते नूनं नात्र कार्या विचारणा || 10 ||

Son, in the previous life, whatever was done for Lord Shiva, only that
(fruits of that) one gets now; there is nothing to think about it (it
is certain).

Jalandhara, from the sea

अथो शिवस्य तत्तेजो भालनेत्रसमुद्भवम् |

क्षिप्तं च लवणांभोधौ सद्य बालो बभूव ह || 37 ||

Then that brilliance (fire) of Lord Shiva which emerged from the eye on the forehead, and (when) thrown into the salty sea, immediately became a child (called Jalandhara). 

This shloka is very similar to the shloka 4 of chapter 14 of the war block in Rudra Samhita. While few other shlokas from this chapter 30, are similar to some shlokas in chapters 13 and 14 of the war block in Rudra Samhita.

God takes the fire in his hand and throws it into the sea

अवधूतेश्वरशिवावतारचरित्रवर्णनं नाम त्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Avadhuteshwara Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 30

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

इत्युक्त्वा स करे धृत्वा स्वतेजोऽनलमद्भुतम् |
भालनेत्रसमुद्भूतं प्राक्षिपल्लवणांभसि || 36 ||

Having said so (that I will throw away this fire from my eye on the forehead far away so that it does not trouble Indra/Devas), he took the amazing fire from his own brilliance which had emerged from the eye on his forehead, in his hand, and threw it in the salty sea.

This shloka is very similar to the shloka 50 of Chapter 13 of the war block in Rudra Samhita.

Mahananda's desire

महानन्दोवाच |

Mahananda (the prostitute) said (to Lord Shiva)

न मे वाञ्छास्ति भोगेषु भूमौ स्वर्गे रसातले |
तव पादाम्बुजस्पर्शादन्यत्किञ्चिन्न कामये || 59 ||

I have no desire for enjoyments on earth, in heaven or in the nether world Rasatala. Other than touching your lotus feet, I do not desire anything.

In truth is everything respectable

वैश्यनाथाह्वय शिवावतारवर्णनं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः

Vaishyanath named Shiva incarnation description Chapter 26

महानन्दोवाच |

Mahananda (the prostitute) said (to all the people there)

सत्याश्रयः परो धर्मः सत्येन परमा गतिः |
सत्येन स्वर्गमोक्षौ च सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् || 48 ||

The high Dharma is to rest on truth. The highest state (is reached by) truth. With truth (one gets) heaven as well as liberation. In truth is everything respectable.

Remedy for suffering caused by Saturn

पिप्पलादावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम पञ्चविम्शोऽध्यायः

Pippalada incarnation's character description Chapter 25

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

पिप्पलादस्य चरितं पद्माचरितसंयुतम् |
यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि सुभक्त्या भुवि मानवः || 21 ||
शनिपीडाविनाशार्थमेतच्चरितमुत्तमम् | 22

A human who reads or even listens to the character of Lord Pippalada along with the character of Padma with good devotion on the earth, this best character (remedy) for destroying the suffering caused by Saturn (like the seven and a half year periods).

Pippalada practised penance under a peepal tree

अथ रुद्र पिप्पलादोऽश्वत्थमूले महाप्रभुः |

तताप सुचिरं कालं लोकानां हितकाम्यया || 63 ||

The great Lord Rudra, Pippalada, under a peepal tree practised penance for a very long time, for the purpose of good of the worlds.

Lord Shiva is worshipped not only by humans in the mortal world, but also by demons, and beings in other worlds. God, therefore, continuously works in favour of all the worlds.

Brahma names the child Pippalada

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

पिप्पलादेति तन्नाम चक्रे ब्रह्मा प्रसन्नधीः |
प्रसन्नो भव देवेश इत्युचे हरिणा सुरैः || 61 ||

Brahma gave him (Rudra incarnation in the form of a child) the name Pippalada, with a highly pleased intellect (mind). Lord Vishnu and the Devas said "Be pleased, God of the Devas" (to that child).

Suvarcha wanted to discard the body

आकाशवाण्युवाच |

 

Voice from the sky said (to Suvarcha)

 

सगर्भा न दहेद्गात्रमिति ब्रह्मनिदेशनम् || 43 ||

 

A pregnant woman shall not burn (her) body – is the instruction from Brahma.

Suvarcha curses the Devas

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

अहो सुरा दुष्टतराश्च सर्वे स्वकार्यदक्षा ह्यबुधाश्च लुब्धाः |

तस्माच्च सर्वे पशवो भवन्तु सेन्द्राश्च मेऽद्यप्रभृतीत्युवाच || 38 ||

"O Devas, all (of you) highly evil, bothered about own work (selfish), really unwise, greedy, therefore may (you) all become animals and including Indra, right from now" – so (Suvarcha, the great Sadhvi, wife of sage Dadhici) said.

आकाशवाण्युवाच |

Voice from the sky said (to Suvarcha)

सगर्भा न दहेद्गात्रमिति ब्रह्मनिदेशनम् || 43 ||

A pregnant woman shall not burn (her) body – is the instruction from Brahma.

Sage Dadhichi gives up his body

पिप्पलादावतारवर्णनं नाम चतुर्विम्शोऽध्यायः

Pippalada incarnation description Chapter 24

 

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

इत्युक्तस्तेन स मुनिः परोपकरणे रतः |

ध्यात्वा शिवं स्वनाथं हि विससर्ज कलेवरम् || 25 ||

 

Having been told (asked by Indra to give his bones as hard as diamond, to make weapons) so, the sage (Dadhichi) bent on doing good to others, discarded his body after meditating on Shiva, his Lord.