The Objective and the Means

Vyasa said

Hearing Suta, the supreme rishis answered, "Please let us hear the wonderful Purana, which is the essence of Vedanta." Hearing the sages, Suta was extremely glad. He remembered Shankara and answered the excellent sages.

Suta said

Rishis, all of you remember the faultless Shiva and listen. The Shiva Purana, foremost among Puranas, is the essence of the Vedas. One who sings it lovingly gains the three aims of devotion, knowledge and non-attachment. The virtuous call it special, holding what the Vedas teach is to be known. Rishis, hear this Purana that holds the essence of the Vedas. Long ago, after many kalpas had passed again and again and the work of creation in the present kalpa had come, a great dispute arose among sages of six lineages. Some said, "This is higher," others, "No, that is higher." In this great dispute they went to Brahma, the Dhatri, and asked him about the one without decay. All those eloquent ones humbly joined their hands and said, "You are the Dhatri of the whole universe, the cause of all causes. Who is the most ancient? Who is supreme among the supreme?"

Brahma answered: "He is the one from whom speech turns back. The mind cannot approach him. From him everything began, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra and all the elements and senses. He is the god Mahadeva, all-knowing, lord of the universe. He can be seen only through supreme devotion and no other means. Rudra, Hari, Hara and the other lords among the gods, full of great devotion, always long to see him. Why say more? One is freed by devotion to Shiva. Devotion to the god comes from his favour, and his favour comes from devotion, like a seed from a shoot and a shoot from a seed. Brahmanas, so all of you come to earth to win Isha's favour. You must hold a long sacrifice lasting a thousand years. He will be the god who presides over the sacrifice. He is the essence of the learning in the Vedas. It is by Shiva's favour that the goal and the means can be known."

The sages asked: "What is the supreme goal? What is the supreme means? What should a practitioner be like? Tell us the truth about this." Brahma answered: "Reaching Shiva as one's destination is the goal, serving him is the means, and the practitioner is one who wins his favour so as to be indifferent to fruits that are not lasting. The karma spoken of in the Vedas must be done without pride. The great goal is to reach the supreme Isha as a destination, through salokya and the rest in order. According to the degree of devotion everyone gains a supreme fruit. There are many kinds of practice, and Isha himself has spoken of them. I will tell you briefly the substance of the practice. Using the ears to hear of him, the tongue to chant of him and the mind to think of him: these are said to be the greatest practice. Maheshvara must be heard of, spoken of and thought of. The shrutis are the proof that this is the practice that carries one toward the goal. Take to this practice alone and achieve all aims. In this world whatever is manifest can be seen with the eyes. The unmanifest is everywhere. Knowing this, one must strive with the ears, so one must begin with hearing. A learned person hears what comes from the guru's mouth. After that an intelligent person works at the others, chanting and thinking. When all the means are properly perfected, up to thinking, there is union with Shiva, and salokya and the rest come gradually in order. All ailments are destroyed. After this one reaches supreme bliss. The practice is indeed hard, but afterward everything is auspicious from the start."