Shiva Purana
by J. L. Shastri | 1950 | 616,585 words
This page relates 鈥渄ifference between saguna and nirguna鈥� as found in the Shiva-purana, which, in Hinduism, represents one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. This work eulogizes Lord Shiva as the supreme deity, besides topics such as cosmology and philosophy. It is written in Sanskrit and claims to be a redaction of an original text consisting of 100,000 metrical verses.
Disclaimer: These are translations of Sanskrit texts and are not necessarily approved by everyone associated with the traditions connected to these texts. Consult the source and original scripture in case of doubt.
Chapter 42 - The difference between Sagu峁嘺 and 狈颈谤驳耻峁嘺
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
The sages said:鈥�
1. Who is 艢颈惫补? Who is 痴颈峁ａ箛耻? Who is Rudra? Who is 叠谤补丑尘腻? Of these who is 狈颈谤驳耻峁嘺? Please clear this doubt of ours.
厂奴迟补 said:鈥�
2. Masters of the Vedas and 痴别诲腻苍迟补 know that which originates from the 狈颈谤驳耻峁嘺 great soul as the one termed 艢颈惫补.
3-4. 笔谤补办峁泃颈 accompanied by 笔耻谤耻峁 originated from him. Penance was performed by them both. The famous city 碍腻艣墨 known as Pa帽cakro艣墨, dear to all, originated in the water there at the base. There was water everywhere in the universe.
5. 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 famous as 狈腻谤腻测补峁嘺 slept there enveloped by 惭腻测腻. The 笔谤补办峁泃颈 is known as 狈腻谤腻测补峁嚹� (belonging to 狈腻谤腻测补峁嘺.)
6. He who was born of his umbilical lotus was 笔颈迟腻尘补丑补. He who was seen by him through penance is said to be 痴颈峁ａ箛耻.
7. The form that was revealed by 狈颈谤驳耻峁嘺 艢颈惫补 at the time of subduing the dispute between the two is, O learned ones, famous as 惭补丑腻诲别惫补.
8. This was said by him, 鈥淚 will be 艢颈惫补 with fire in my forehead.鈥� He became famous by the name Rudra. He is the cause of blessing the worlds.
9. The formless one became one with forms in order to facilitate meditation. He alone is 艢颈惫补 himself, favourably disposed towards his devotees.
10. Essentially there is no difference between 艢颈惫补 who is different from the three 骋耻峁嘺蝉 and Rudra the abode of 骋耻峁嘺蝉, as in the case of gold and an ornament made thereof.
11. Their forms and activities are the same; they bestow good goal on the devotees equally; they are equally worthy of being served by all and they indulge in various divine sports.
12. Rudra of terrible exploits has the form of 艢颈惫补 in every respect. He was born for carrying out the tasks of the devotees. He helps 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and 叠谤补丑尘腻.
13. Other beings and gods who are born get dissolved in due order but not so Rudra. Rudra gets merged in 艢颈惫补.
14. This is the directive in the Vedas that all these 笔谤腻办峁泃补蝉 (born of 笔谤补办峁泃颈) meet Rudra and go but Rudra does not meet these and go.
15. All worship Rudra but Rudra does not worship any one. Yet due to his favourable attitude to his devotees sometimes he worships himself.
16. Those who worship others get dissolved in them. That is why they attain Rudra in due course, O learned ones.
17. Those who are Rudra鈥檚 devotees attain the state of 艢颈惫补 in a trice. They need not depend on any one else. This is the eternal statement in the Vedas.
18. O brahmins, ignorance is of various types. Perfect knowledge is not so. I shall explain their modes. Listen respectively.
19. Whatever is seen here beginning with 叠谤补丑尘腻 is 艢颈惫补 himself. The concept of manifoldness is unreal.
20. 艢颈惫补 is said to be before creation. 艢颈惫补 is there in the midst of creation. 艢颈惫补 is said to be at the end of creation. When everything is a void, 厂补诲腻艣颈惫补 exists.
21. O great sages, thus 艢颈惫补 is fourfold. He alone shall be known as Sagu峁嘺. In view of the possession of 艢补办迟颈 he is twofold.
22. It is by him that the eternal Vedas, syllables, syllabic instants and his meditation and worship were given to 痴颈峁ａ箛耻.
23. The eternal 艢谤耻迟颈 蝉补测蝉鈥斺赌�莫艣腻苍补岣� Sarvavidy膩n膩m鈥�. Hence 艢颈惫补 is the creator of the Vedas and the lord of the Vedas.
24. He alone is 艢颈惫补 himself who blesses all. He is the creator, sustainer and annihilator. He is the cosmic witness and 狈颈谤驳耻峁嘺.
25. Restriction of time is for others and not for Rudra. He is 惭补丑腻办腻濒补 himself associating with 惭补丑腻办腻濒墨.
26. It is so that Brahmins mention Rudra and 碍腻濒墨. Thanks to their wish and truthful sports everything is obtained by them.
27. He has no progenitor, no sustainer and no annihilator. He himself is the cause of all 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and others are his creations.
28. He is not the creation of any one. Though single he assumes manifold shapes. Seeming to be many he becomes unified into one.
29. A single seed grows into a tree and produces many seeds. Even in their multiplicity they are of one tree. 惭补丑别艣惫补谤补 in the form of 艢颈惫补 is verily like this.
30. This is the great knowledge of 艢颈惫补 explained factually. O great sages, only the wise know this, none else.
The sages said:鈥�
31. Please explain that knowledge with all its characteristics realising which one attains the state of 艢颈惫补. How is 艢颈惫补 all and how is all 艢颈惫补?
Vy膩sa said:鈥�
32. On hearing these words, 厂奴迟补 the excellent propounder of the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 remembered the lotus-like feet of 艢颈惫补 and spoke these words to the sages.