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.
कपर्देश्वरमाहात्म्यं पप्रच्छुर्गुरुमच्युतम्
They asked their teacher Acyuta about the greatness of Kapardeśvara.
कपर्देशस्य माहात्म्यं प्रणम्य वृषभध्वजम्
Having bowed to Vṛṣabhadhvaja, he spoke of the greatness of Kapardeśa.
स्मृत्वैवाशेषपापौघं क्षिप्रमस्य विमुञ्चति
By merely remembering, one quickly becomes free from all heaps of sin.
विघ्नाः सर्वे विनश्यन्ति कपर्देश्वरपूजनात्
All obstacles are destroyed by worshipping Kapardeśvara.
पूजितव्यं प्रयत्नेन स्तोतव्यं वैदिकैः स्तवैः
He should be worshipped with effort and praised with Vedic hymns.
जायते योगसंसिद्धिः सा षण्मासे न संशयः
Perfection in yoga arises within six months; of this there is no doubt.
पिशाचमोचने कुण्डे स्नातस्यात्र समीपतः
For one who bathes here, near the Piśācamocana pool,
जजाप रुद्रमनिशं प्रणवं ब्रह्मरूपिणम्
He recited the Rudra mantra day and night, the Pranava, the form of Brahman.
उवास तत्र योगात्मा कृत्वा दीक्षां तु नैष्ठिकीम
There, the one whose self is yoga dwelt, having undertaken the vow of lifelong dedication.
अस्थिचर्मपिनद्धाङ्गं निः श्वसन्तं मुहुर्मुहुः
His body covered with bones and skin, he breathed heavily again and again.
प्रोवाच को भवान् कस्माद् देशाद् देशमिमंश्रितः
He asked: Who are you? From which land have you come to this place?
पुत्रपौत्रादिभिर्युक्तः कुटुम्बभरणोत्सुकः
Surrounded by sons, grandsons, and others, you were eager to support your household.
न कदाचित् कृतं पुण्यमल्पं वा स्वल्पमेव वा
Never, not even a little, have you performed any meritorious deed, however small.
विश्वेश्वरो वाराणस्यां दृष्टः स्पृष्टे नमस्कृतः
The Lord of the universe, seen, touched, and saluted in Varanasi—
न दृष्टं नन्मया घोरं यमस्य वदनं मुने
O sage, I have not seen the terrible face of Yama.
पिपासयाधुनाक्रान्तो न जानामि हिताहितम्
Now overcome by thirst, I do not know what is beneficial or harmful.
कुरुष्व तं नमस्तुभ्यं त्वामहं शरणं गतः
Do that for me; I bow to you. I have taken refuge in you.
त्वादृशो न हि लोके ऽस्मिन् विद्यते पुण्यकृत्तमः
There is truly no one in this world more virtuous than you.
संस्पृष्टो वन्दितो भूयः को ऽन्यस्त्वत्सदृशो भुवि
Having been touched and saluted again—who else on earth is like you?
येनेमां कुत्सितां योनिं क्षिप्रमेव प्रहास्यसि
By whom, I will quickly abandon this wretched birth.