देहान्ते तत्परं ज्योतिरानन्दं विशते बुधः
At the end of the body, the wise one enters that supreme, blissful light.
उपास्य देवमीशानं प्राप्तवन्तः परं पदम्
Having worshipped the god Īśāna, they attained the supreme state.
गोचर्ममात्रं विप्रेन्द्रा ओङ्कारेश्वरमुत्तमम्
O best of Brāhmins, Oṃkāreśvara, the highest Lord, is the size of a cowhide.
विश्वेश्वरं तथोङ्कारं कपर्देश्वरमेव च
Likewise, Viśveśvara, Oṃkāra, and Kapardeśvara.
न कश्चिदिह जानाति विना शंभोरनुग्रहात्
No one here knows, except by the grace of Śaṃbhu.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिङ्गं द्रष्टुं देवस्य शूलिनः
To behold the liṅga of Kṛttivāsa, the Lord, the wielder of the trident—
कथयामास शिष्येभ्यो भगवान् ब्रह्मवित्तमः
The venerable sage, foremost knower of Brahman, spoke to his disciples.
ब्राह्मणान् हन्तुमायातो ये ऽत्र नित्यमुपासते
He came to slay the Brāhmaṇas—those who constantly worship here.
रक्षणार्थं द्विजश्रेष्ठा भक्तानां भक्तवत्सलः
For the protection of the devoted, O best of twice-born, He who cherishes His devotees—
वसस्तस्याकरोत् कृत्तिं कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्ततः
Kṛttivāsa, the Lord, then made a skin his garment.
तेनैव च शरीरेण प्राप्तास्तत् परमं पदम्
And by that very body, they attained the supreme state.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिङ्गं नित्यमावृत्य संस्थिताः
They remain ever encircling the liṅga of Kṛttivāsa, the Lord.
कृत्तिवासं न मुञ्चन्ति कृतार्थास्ते न संशयः
Those fulfilled ones never leave Kṛttivāsa—of this there is no doubt.
एकेन जन्मना मोक्षः कृत्तिवासे तु लभ्यते
Liberation at Kṛttivāsa is attained in a single birth.
गोपितं देवदेवेन महादेवेन शंभुना
It was concealed by Devadeva, by the great god Śaṃbhu.
उपासते महादेवं जपन्ति शतरुद्रियम्
They worship Mahādeva, they recite the Śatarudriya.
ध्यायन्ति हृदये देवं स्थाणुं सर्वान्तरं शिवम्
They meditate in their hearts on the god, the steadfast, the inner Self, Śiva.
ये कृत्तिवासं शरणं प्रपन्नाः
Those who have taken refuge in Kṛttivāsa—
ध्यायन्ति चित्ते यतयो महेशम्
The ascetics meditate in their minds on Maheśa.
स्तुवन्ति रुद्रं प्रणमन्ति शंभुम्
They praise Rudra, they bow to Śaṃbhu.
जाने महादेवमनेकरूपम्
I know Mahādeva, of manifold forms.
जगाम लिङ्गं तद् द्रष्टुं कपर्देश्वरमव्ययम्
He went to behold that liṅga, the imperishable Lord of matted locks.
पिशाचमोचने तीर्थे पूजयामास शूलिनम्
At the holy place Piśācamocana, he worshipped the Lord with the trident.
मेनिरे क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं प्रणेमुर्गिरिशं हरम्
They regarded the greatness of the field, and bowed to Giriśa, the remover of evil.
मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्देश्वरमुत्तमम्
A single doe, seeking to be devoured, approached the supreme Lord Kapardeśvara.
धावमाना सुसंभ्रान्ता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता
Fleeing in great panic, she fell into the power of a tiger.
जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान्
Seeing the best of sages, she went to another deserted place.
अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा
A great flame appeared in the sky, shining with the brilliance of the sun.
वृषाधिरूढा पुरुषैस्तादृशैरेव संवृता
Mounted on a bull and surrounded by such men, she was seen.
गणेश्वरः स्वयं भूत्वा न दृष्टस्तत्क्षणात् ततः
Gaṇeśvara himself appeared, but was not seen from that moment.