न विद्यते ह्यविदितं भवता परमर्षिणा
There is nothing unknown to you, O supreme sage.
अन्ये सांख्यं तथा योगं तपस्त्वन्ये महर्षयः
Some sages pursue Sāṃkhya and Yoga, while others practice austerity.
अहिंसां सत्यमप्यन्ये संन्यासमपरे विदुः
Others know nonviolence and truth, and some understand renunciation.
तीर्थयात्रां तथा केचिदन्ये चेन्द्रियनिग्रहम्
Some undertake pilgrimages, while others practice restraint of the senses.
यदि वा विद्यते ऽप्यन्यद् गुह्यं तद्वक्तुमर्हसि
If there is anything else secret, you ought to tell it.
प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा प्रणम्य वृषकेतनम्
He spoke with deep words, having bowed to the one whose emblem is the bull.
वक्ष्ये गुह्यतमाद् गुह्यं श्रुण्वन्त्वन्ये महर्षयः
I will speak the most secret of secrets; let the other great sages listen.
गूढमप्राज्ञविद्विष्टं सेवितं सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः
Hidden, unknown to the unwise, served by those who see subtlety.
न वेदविद्विषु शुभं ज्ञाननानां ज्ञानमुत्तमम्
Among those ignorant of the Vedas, the highest knowledge of various knowledges is not auspicious.
देवासनगता देवी महादेवमपृच्छत
The goddess, seated among the gods, questioned Mahādeva.
कथं त्वां पुरुषो देवमचिरादेव पश्यति
How does a man see you, O god, in a short time?
आयासबहुला लोके यानि चान्यानि शङ्कर
O Śaṅkara, what other arduous tasks exist in the world?
दृश्यो हि भगवान् सूक्ष्मः सर्वेषामथ देहिनाम्
The Blessed Lord, though subtle, is indeed perceivable by all embodied beings.
हिताय सर्वभक्तानां ब्रूहि कामाङ्गनाशन
For the welfare of all devotees, speak, O destroyer of desire.
वक्ष्ये तव यथा तत्त्वं यदुक्तं परमर्षिभिः
I shall declare to you the true principle, as spoken by the supreme sages.
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां संसारार्णवतारिणी
It is the deliverer from the ocean of worldly existence for all beings.
निवसन्ति महात्मानः परं नियममास्थिताः
Great souls, established in supreme discipline, dwell there.
ज्ञानानामुत्तमं ज्ञानमविमुक्तं परं मम
Among all forms of knowledge, the highest is the imperishable, which is mine.
श्मशानसंस्थितान्येव दिव्यभूमिगतानि च
Only those who dwell in cremation grounds or have reached the divine realm [perceive this].
अयुक्तास्तन्न पश्यन्ति युक्ताः पश्यन्ति चेतसा
The unyoked do not see that, but the yoked perceive it with their mind.
कालो भूत्वा जगदिदं संहराम्यत्र सुन्दरि
Becoming Time, O beautiful one, I withdraw this world here.
मद्भक्तास्तत्र गच्छन्ति मामेव प्रविशन्ति ते
My devotees go there; they enter into me alone.
ध्यानमध्ययनं ज्ञानं सर्वं तत्राक्षयं भवेत्
Meditation, study, and knowledge—all these become imperishable there.
अविमुक्तं प्रविष्टस्य तत्सर्वं व्रजति क्षयम्
For one who has entered Avimukta, all that is destroyed.
स्त्रियो म्लेच्छाश्च ये चान्ये संकीर्णाः पापयोनयः
Women, foreigners, and others of mixed or sinful birth,
कालेन निधनं प्राप्ता अविमुक्ते वरानने
Who have met their end in Avimukta, O beautiful-faced one,
शिवे मम पुरे देवि जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः
Are born as humans there, in my city, O goddess, which is Shiva’s.
ईश्वरानुगृहीता हि सर्वे यान्ति परां गतिम्
All, being favored by the Lord, attain the supreme state.
अश्मना चरणौ हत्वा वाराणस्यां वसेन्नरः
Even one who, having struck his feet with a stone, dwells in Varanasi,
यत्र तत्र विपन्नस्य गतिः संसारमोक्षणी
Wherever he meets his end, his course is liberation from worldly existence.