Chapter 2 of 51 · Uma Samhita · Overall chapter 316 of 464
Upamanyu's Instructions
Asked by Krishna for examples of successful devotees, Upamanyu delivers an extensive roll call spanning daityas, sages, kings, courtesans, a hunter and even a brahmana who became Brahma himself, each rewarded by Shiva in proportion to their devotion regardless of their station or past conduct.
Sanatkumara said
Hearing the great-souled sage Upamanyu, devotion to Mahadeva arose in Krishna, and he addressed the sage.
Shri Krishna said
Upamanyu, sage, father, please be kind to me and tell me of those who have worshipped Shiva and achieved their desires.
Upamanyu replied
Descendant of Yadu, there are those who worshipped Bhava and achieved their desires, and I will tell of those devotees. In ancient times Hiranyakashipu got from Sharva Chandrashekhara the prosperity of the immortals for a million years. His foremost son was famous as Nandana, who by Sharva's boon kept Indra subject for ten thousand years. In a great battle long ago Vishnu's terrible discus and Indra's vajra were shattered against his body; the intelligent demon was so strong, and so dharmic, that discus, vajra and the other foremost weapons had no effect on him. The very powerful demon afflicted the gods; such was the boon that he struck Indra and the gods severely. Vidyutprabha pleased the lord of the three worlds and got from Bhava the boon of being lord of all worlds for a hundred thousand years. Shiva also gave him the boon of ten million sons, and said he would be his follower for ever. Bhagavan Bhava gave him the auspicious kingdom of Kushadvipa. Vaasudeva, Shankara was delighted and pleased. Brahma made the daitya Shatamukha, who long ago practised austerities for a hundred years and got a thousand sons from Bhava. The sage Yajnavalkya, sung in the Vedas, worshipped Mahadeva and got excellent knowledge. Vedavyasa got unmatched fame, also by worshipping Shankara, and knowledge of the three times. The valakhilyas, insulted by Indra, got from Shankara Garuda, whom no one could beat and who took away the soma. Earlier, through Kapardin's rage all the waters were destroyed, and when Sharva who holds the skull was worshipped by the gods the waters began to flow again. For three hundred years Anasuya, Atri's wife, fasted and slept on a pestle used for threshing; from Sharva she got the sage Dattatreya, Chandra and Durvasa as sons. Devoted to her husband, she made the Ganga flow at Chitrakuta. Madhusudana, Mahadeva brings happiness to devotees: after satisfying him Vikarna gained great siddhi. King Chitrasena, firm in devotion, pleased Shambhu and got unmatched pleasure and freedom from fear of other kings. When Shrikara, a gopika's son, saw the king worshipping Mahadeva, great devotion arose in him and he gained supreme siddhi. Hari, Prince Chitrangada, Simantini's husband, was submerged in the Yamuna, but by Shiva's favour did not die. Excellent in his vows, he went to Taksha's abode, won his friendship and returned happily home with many kinds of riches. His beloved Simantini kept the Monday vrata and by Shiva's favour gained supreme good fortune. Long ago, from greed, a brahmana's son pretended deceitfully to be a woman; by the power of the vrata he became a woman. Chanchula was a wayward woman who, in earlier times, heard accounts of dharma from a brahmana in Gokarna and, by devotion to Shambhu, gained the supreme destination. By his wife's favour Chanchula's husband Binduga heard the Shiva Purana and gained a virtuous destination with Shankara. Pingala was a famous courtesan and Mandara the worst of brahmanas, and by worshipping Shiva's bull both gained a virtuous destination. A courtesan named Mahananda devoted herself to Shiva's feet and, firm in her pledge, pleased Shiva and gained a virtuous destination. The brahmana maiden Kaikeyi lovingly kept Shiva's vrata and by observing it gained great happiness. Krishna, long ago King Vimarshana was devoted to Shiva and by his favour gained a supreme destination. King Durjana was a sinner, deceitful and lustful, who consorted with many women; by Shiva's favour he got Shiva and was untouched by any karma. A hunter named Shankara with his wife kept Shiva's vrata, smeared himself with cremation ash and by devotion gained an excellent supreme destination. A chandali named Soumini, unknowingly, worshipped him and, by Shankara's favour, gained a destination with Shiva. A hunter named Mahakala who did violence to others worshipped Shiva with devotion and gained a virtuous, excellent destination. In earlier times Durvasa, tiger among sages, gained Shiva's favour and spread throughout the world his teaching of devotion to Shiva, which ensures liberation. Koushika worshipped Shankara, who brings welfare to the worlds, and from a kshatriya became a brahmana, like a second Brahma. By his virtuous devotion and worship of Shiva the foremost of Shiva's devotees became Virinchi, the creator, grandfather of all the worlds. Hari, the great lord Markandeya, supreme among sages, lived for ever; the prosperous one, foremost of Shiva's devotees, got Shiva's favours. Indra of the gods was a great devotee of Shiva and by his favour in earlier times became lord of all the gods and enjoyed the three worlds. Bana, Bali's son, was Shiva's great devotee and by Shiva's favour became self-controlled and the lord and leader of the whole universe. Hari got his powers through devotion and Dadhichi became a great lord. Rama was Shankara's devotee and got Shiva's favour. Kanada, Bhargava and Goutama the guru were devoted to Shiva and, gaining great powers, became lords. Madhava, Shakalya, worthy of praise, worshipped Bhava for nine hundred years by mental sacrifice, and Bhava, satisfied, told him he would become a composer of texts, his influence and fame eternal in the three worlds, his lineage eternal and adorned by great sages, and he would be the composer of sutras. That is the boon the supreme sage got from Shankara, and his fame spread through the three worlds and he was revered. In the krita yuga there was a rishi famous as Savarni who tormented himself with austerities for six thousand years, and Bhagavan Rudra told him directly that he was satisfied with him, that he would be famous as the composer of a text and would not suffer age and death. So Mahadeva has long been worshipped by holy devotees and has given them the auspicious desires they wished for. With a single mouth I cannot speak of Bhagavan's qualities, nor could I state them even if I tried for hundreds of years.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.