Vyasa's Instruction

Suta said

There is a lake named Skandasara, like an ocean. Its beautiful water is cool and sparkling and tastes like amrita. Slabs of crystal lie all around it. On every side it is covered with blossoms of all seasons. Lilies, lotuses and other flowers shine like stars. The waves are like clouds and it is as if the sky had come down to earth. The stairs that lead down are inlaid with blue stones and easy to use. The way down by the stairs is beautiful and the eight directions are charming. The sons of sages often go down there to fetch water and bathe, in white sacred threads, white garments and bark. Some have matted hair, some tufts, some shaved heads. They wear the Tripundra. Some are full of non-attachment, some cannot smile. They hold different auspicious vessels, pots, cups of lotus leaf and small pots, and some hold water pots in their hands. They collect water for themselves and for others and especially for the gods, and every day gather flowers. Some are wary of entering the water and stand on rocks. These sages are of good conduct, their limbs grey with ash. Here and there on the rocks can be seen the remnants of worship: sesame, unbroken rice, flowers and sanctified darbha grass. They go there to offer oblations to gods, rishis and ancestors, and return. Brahmanas go there every day to make these offerings. In places the offerings and flowers are scattered by the wind. They offer arghya to Surya and the ground is covered with signs of worship. In some places where they bathe, leaders of elephant herds also plunge into the water. In some places thirsty stags, does and horses come to drink. In some places people, peacocks and fine elephants go down to the water. In some places bright bulls rub their horns against the banks or play at fighting other bulls. In some places there are beautiful karandavas, in others the calls of cranes, in some the calls of ruddy geese, in others the buzzing of bees. Some come to bathe and drink, and others live in the trees along the banks. The lake seems to welcome them lovingly and converse with these creatures. Cuckoos hide in the tall branches and call day and night, as if inviting those who suffer from the heat.

On the northern bank of the lake there is a wish-granting tree, and beside it an altar of diamonds covered with soft antelope skin. Sanatkumara was seated there, having regained his earlier form as a boy. He had been absorbed in samadhi and had just opened his eyes. The sages worshipped the one worshipped by the lords of yogis. Seeing him, the ones from Naimisha bowed and stood there. Welcomed and asked, they told him why they had come. At that moment the loud sound of a drum was heard in the sky, and at the same instant they saw a celestial car like the sun. Countless lords of the ganas surrounded it in every direction, with crowds of apsaras and Rudra's maidens, the sound of mridangas and murajas, veenas and flutes. It had colourful jewelled canopies adorned with strings of pearls. Sages, siddhas, gandharvas, yakshas, charanas and kinnaras surrounded it, singing, dancing and playing instruments. On a staff decorated with coral was a banner marked with the sign of a bull; like an excellent turret, it commanded great reverence. At the centre of the car was a divine throne, and Shilada's son sat on it with the illustrious Suyasha, whose form was like Shri's. Two whisks fanned him and an umbrella with a jewelled handle, pure as the moon, was held over his head. He had three eyes and the form of the lord who commands all. He had come to convey the inviolable command of the maker of the universe. It was as if Shambhu, who favours everyone, were directly before them. He looked like the one who wields the trident as a weapon, leader of Vishveshvara's ganas, a second Vishveshvara. He could punish the lords of the universe and also favour them. He had four arms and a large body, adorned with the crescent moon, a garland of serpents around his neck, and the moon for an ornament. He was the embodied form of glory, capability and action. It was as if the all-knowing one who gives liberation had arrived.

Seeing him, Brahma's son rejoiced with the rishis. He stood, joined his hands and offered himself to him. Meanwhile the car reached the spot and Nandi came out. Sanatkumara lay flat before him like a rod, praised him and told him about the sages: "Belonging to six lineages, they have performed an extremely long sacrifice at Naimisha. Instructed by Brahma and moved by earlier wishes, they have come here." Hearing Brahma's son, Nandi glanced at them and instantly cut their Pashas. He gave them Shiva's dharma and Ishvara's knowledge-yoga. Having done so, he returned to the divinity's presence. Sanatkumara himself related all this to my guru Vyasa, and Vyasa told me.

Suta concluded

For your welfare I have briefly told you this. It is a jewel among Puranas. Following the earlier instruction, this knowledge must never be revealed to someone who is not Shiva's devotee, or to an unbeliever. A person who does so out of delusion goes to hell. A person who follows this path, accepts it, reads it or hears it will always find happiness. It stands for the three aims of human life led by dharma, and always gives nirvana. Following the path of the Purana, we have helped each other. Having achieved my aim, I will leave now. May all always be auspicious for you.

Vyasa concluded

Suta pronounced his blessings and departed. The sages completed an extremely great sacrifice at Prayaga. With the kali yuga arrived, time and land were polluted, and they lived at Varanasi. Wishing to free themselves from all the Pashas of Pashus, they kept the Pashupata vow. They gained the right to supreme understanding and samadhi. In earlier times those blameless ones won supreme peace. For welfare and out of affection, the Shiva Purana is now complete. One should work to read it and hear it. It should not be told to an unbeliever, a deceiver, a person without faith, a person not devoted to Mahesha, or one who does not fly the banner of dharma. Even if a person hears it once, sins are reduced to ashes. A person without devotion gains devotion; for one who has it, devotion increases. If one hears it again, virtuous devotion is gained, and when one hears it yet again, there is liberation. So those who desire liberation must hear it repeatedly. After that, with virtuous understanding, one should follow the conduct described in the Purana, and doubtless one will gain supreme fruits. In ancient times kings, brahmanas and excellent vaishyas did this seven times, and having done so, won sight of Shiva. If a man hears this with great devotion, he enjoys all pleasures in this world, and when the enjoyment is over, he gains liberation. This Shiva Purana is greatly loved by Shiva. It gives enjoyment and liberation and is as revered as the Vedas. It increases devotion. A person who constantly tells and hears the Shiva Purana, together with Amba, his sons and his ganas, is granted what is auspicious by Shankara.