पठन् दक्षकृतं स्तोत्रं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते मृतश् च गणसायुज्यं पूज्यमानः सुरासुरैः
One who recites the hymn composed by Daksha is freed from all sins; and after death, attains union with Shiva’s attendants, being honored by gods and demons alike.
वृषेण विनियुक्तेन विमानेन विराजते आभूतसंप्लवस्थायी रुद्रस्यानुचरो भवेत्
He shines, riding in a celestial chariot drawn by a bull, and remains established until the dissolution of creation, becoming a follower of Rudra.
इत्य् आह भगवान् व्यासः पराशरसुतः प्रभुः नैतद् वेदयते कश्चिन् नैतच् छ्राव्यं च कस्यचित्
Thus spoke the venerable Vyasa, son of Parashara, the master; no one knows this, nor should it be told to anyone.
श्रुत्वेमं परमं गुह्यं ये ऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः वैश्याः स्त्रियश् च शूद्राश् च रुद्रलोकम् अवाप्नुयुः
Even those born in sinful lineages, such as Vaishyas, women, and Shudras, upon hearing this supreme secret, attain the realm of Rudra.
श्रावयेद् यश् च विप्रेभ्यः सदा पर्वसु पर्वसु रुद्रलोकम् अवाप्नोति द्विजो वै नात्र संशयः
And whoever always recites it to Brahmins on sacred occasions, that twice-born surely attains Rudra’s realm—there is no doubt.
श्रुत्वैवं वै मुनिश्रेष्ठाः कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् रुद्रक्रोधोद्भवां पुण्यां व्यासस्य वदतो द्विजाः
Having heard this story, which destroys sin and arose from Rudra’s wrath, the foremost sages listened as Vyasa spoke, and the twice-born rejoiced.
पार्वत्याश् च तथा रोषं क्रोधं शंभोश् च दुःसहम् उत्पत्तिं वीरभद्रस्य भद्रकाल्याश् च संभवम्
They heard of Parvati’s anger, the unbearable wrath of Shambhu, the birth of Virabhadra, and the origin of Bhadrakali.
दक्षयज्ञविनाशं च वीर्यं शंभोस् तथाद्भुतम् पुनः प्रसादं देवस्य दक्षस्य सुमहात्मनः
They heard of the destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice, the wondrous might of Shambhu, and again, the mercy of the great-souled Daksha.
यज्ञभागं च रुद्रस्य दक्षस्य च फलं क्रतोः हृष्टा बभूवुः संप्रीता विस्मिताश् च पुनः पुनः
They heard of Rudra’s share of the sacrifice, and the fruit of Daksha’s ritual; again and again, they became delighted, pleased, and amazed.
पप्रच्छुश् च पुनर् व्यासं कथाशेषं तथा द्विजाः पृष्टः प्रोवाच तान् व्यासः क्षेत्रम् एकाम्रकं पुनः
The twice-born then asked Vyasa again about the rest of the story; questioned, Vyasa spoke to them once more of the Ekamra field.
ब्रह्मप्रोक्तां कथां पुण्यां श्रुत्वा तु ऋषिपुंगवाः प्रशशंसुस् तदा हृष्टा रोमाञ्चिततनूरुहाः
Having heard the auspicious tale spoken by Brahma, the foremost sages praised it, thrilled and with their hairs standing on end.
अहो देवस्य माहात्म्यं त्वया शंभोः प्रकीर्तितम् दक्षस्य च सुरश्रेष्ठ यज्ञविध्वंसनं तथा
Ah! The greatness of the god Shambhu has been proclaimed by you, as well as the destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice, O best of gods.
एकाम्रकं क्षेत्रवरं वक्तुम् अर्हसि सांप्रतम् श्रोतुम् इच्छामहे ब्रह्मन् परं कौतूहलं हि नः
You ought now to speak of the excellent field of Ekamra; O Brahman, we wish to hear, for our curiosity is supreme.
तेषां तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा लोकनाथश् चतुर्मुखः प्रोवाच शंभोस् तत् क्षेत्रं भूतले दुष्कृतच्छदम्
Hearing their words, the lord of the worlds, four-faced Brahma, spoke: That field of Shambhu on earth is the destroyer of evil deeds.
शृणुध्वं मुनिशार्दूलाः प्रवक्ष्यामि समासतः सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं क्षेत्रं परमदुर्लभम्
Hear, O tiger among sages, I shall briefly describe the most auspicious field, which removes all sins and is exceedingly rare.
लिङ्गकोटिसमायुक्तं वाराणसीसमं शुभम् एकाम्रकेति विख्यातं तीर्थाष्टकसमन्वितम्
It is adorned with millions of lingas, equal in sanctity to Varanasi, auspicious and renowned as Ekamra, endowed with eight holy bathing places.
एकाम्रवृक्षस् तत्रासीत् पुरा कल्पे द्विजोत्तमाः नाम्ना तस्यैव तत् क्षेत्रम् एकाम्रकम् इति श्रुतम्
There once stood the Ekamra tree in ancient times, O best of twice-born; from its name, that field is known as Ekamra.
हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णं नरनारीसमन्वितम् विद्वांसगण भूयिष्ठं धनधान्यादिसंयुतम्
It is filled with joyful and prosperous people, men and women together, abundant with learned groups and rich in wealth and grain.
गृहगोपुरसंबाधं त्रिकचाद्वारभूषितम् नानावणिक्समाकीर्णं नानारत्नोपशोभितम्
The city was crowded with houses and gateways, adorned with three-arched entrances, filled with merchants of every kind, and beautified by various precious gems.
पुराट्टालकसंयुक्तं रथिभिः समलंकृतम् राजहंसनिभैः शुभ्रैः प्रासादैर् उपशोभितम्
It was furnished with lofty towers and turrets, splendidly decorated with chariots, and graced by shining palaces resembling royal swans.
मार्गगद्वारसंयुक्तं सितप्राकारशोभितम् रक्षितं शस्त्रसंघैश् च परिखाभिर् अलंकृतम्
It was equipped with roads and gateways, adorned with white ramparts, guarded by bands of armed men, and encircled by moats.
सितरक्तैस् तथा पीतैः कृष्णश्यामैश् च वर्णकैः समीरणोद्धताभिश् च पताकाभिर् अलंकृतम्
It was decorated with flags of white, red, yellow, black, and dark hues, fluttering vigorously in the wind.
नित्योत्सवप्रमुदितं नानावादित्रनिस्वनैः वीणावेणुमृदङ्गैश् च क्षेपणीभिर् अलंकृतम्
There, constant festivals brought joy, with the sounds of various musical instruments—vīṇās, flutes, and drums—adorned with cymbals.
देवतायतनैर् दिव्यैः प्राकारोद्यानमण्डितैः पूजाविचित्ररचितैः सर्वत्र समलंकृतम्
It was adorned everywhere with divine temples, ramparts, and gardens, and decorated with wondrous arrangements for worship.
स्त्रियः प्रमुदितास् तत्र दृश्यन्ते तनुमध्यमाः हारैर् अलंकृतग्रीवाः पद्मपत्त्रायतेक्षणाः
There, joyful women with slender waists were seen, their necks adorned with necklaces, and their eyes long like lotus petals.
पीनोन्नतकुचाः श्यामाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः स्थिरालकाः सुकपोलाः काञ्चीनूपुरनादिताः
They had full, high breasts, dark complexions, faces like the full moon, steady locks of hair, beautiful cheeks, and jingling girdles and anklets.
सुकेश्यश् चारुजघनाः कर्णान्तायतलोचनाः सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नाः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः
With lovely hair and charming hips, their eyes extended to their ears, endowed with all auspicious marks, and adorned with every ornament.
दिव्यवस्त्रधराः शुभ्राः काश्चित् काञ्चनसंनिभाः हंसवारणगामिन्यः कुचभारावनामिताः
Some wore divine, radiant garments, some shone like gold, moving with the grace of swans and elephants, their bodies bent by the weight of their breasts.
दिव्यगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गाः कर्णाभरणभूषिताः मदालसाश् च सुश्रोण्यो नित्यं प्रहसिताननाः
Their limbs were anointed with divine fragrances, their ears adorned with ornaments, languid from delight, with beautiful hips and ever-smiling faces.
ईषद्विस्पष्टदशना बिम्बौष्ठा मधुरस्वराः ताम्बूलरञ्जितमुखा विदग्धाः प्रियदर्शनाः
Their teeth were slightly visible, lips red as bimba fruit, voices sweet, mouths stained with betel, clever and pleasing to behold.