असेव्यमेतत् कथितं वेदवाह्यं तथेतरम्
What has been described as not to be practiced is that which is outside the Veda, and other such things.
ज्ञायते मत्स्वरूपं तु मुक्त्वा वेदं सनातनम्
My true nature is known only through the eternal Veda.
अचिरादैश्वरं ज्ञानमुत्पत्स्यति न संशयः
There is no doubt that divine knowledge will arise soon.
ध्यातमात्रो हि सान्निध्यं दास्यामि मुनिसत्तमाः
O best of sages, merely by being meditated upon, I will grant my presence.
ब्रह्मचर्यरताः शान्ता ज्ञानयोगपरायणाः
Those devoted to celibacy, peaceful, and intent on the yoga of knowledge—
वितेनिरे बहून् वादान्नध्यात्मज्ञानसंश्रयान्
They have established many doctrines based on the knowledge of the self.
को ऽपि स्यात् सर्वभावानां हेतुरीश्वर एव च
There may be some cause of all beings, and that is indeed the Lord.
आविरासीन्महादेवी देवी गिरिवरात्मजा
The great goddess appeared, the goddess, daughter of the mountain.
स्वभाभिर्विमलाभिस्तु पूरयन्ती नभस्तलम्
Filling the sky with her own pure and radiant forms.
जानन्ति ते तत् परमस्य बीजम्
They know that as the seed of the Supreme.
तस्यामथैते मुनयश्च विप्राः
Then those sages and brāhmaṇas—
रुद्रं बृहन्तं पुरुषं पुराणम्
Rudra, the great, the ancient Person—
दाविर्बभौ जन्मविनाशहेतु
He appeared as the cause of birth and destruction.
व्योमाभिधाना दिवि राजतीव
Shining in the sky, called 'Vyoma,' as if radiant.
मायामथारुह्य स देवदेवः
Having ascended Māyā, that Lord of gods—
मेतज्ज्ञात्वा ह्यमृतत्वं व्रजन्ति
Knowing this, indeed, they attain immortality.
वनौकसस्ते पुनरेव रुद्रम्
The forest-dwellers again worship Rudra—
देवदारुवने पूर्वं पुराणे यन्मया श्रुतम्
In the ancient Devadāru forest, as I heard before—
श्रावयेद् वा द्विजान् शान्तान् स याति परमां गतिम्
Or if he causes peaceful twice-borns to hear, he attains the supreme state.
नर्मदा लोकविख्याता तीर्थानामुत्तमा नदी
Narmadā, renowned in the world, is the foremost of holy rivers.
युधिष्ठिराय तु शुभं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
To Yudhiṣṭhira, indeed, she is auspicious and destroys all sins.
माहात्म्यं च प्रयागस्य तीर्थानि विविधानि च
And the greatness of Prayāga and its various sacred places—
तस्यास्त्विदानीं माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि सत्तम
Now, O noble one, you should recount her greatness.
तारयेत् सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
She delivers all beings, both immobile and mobile.
इदानीं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमनाः शुभम्
Now I shall declare that, O listen attentively to this auspicious tale.
ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्मदा
Whether in village or in forest, Narmadā is holy everywhere.
सद्यः पुनाति गाङ्गेयं दर्शनादेव नार्मदम्
She instantly purifies the Ganges-born merely by her sight, O Narmada.
पुण्या च त्रिषु लोकेषु रमणीया मनोरमा
She is holy in the three worlds, delightful and charming.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु राजेन्द्र सिद्धिं तु परमां गताः
Having performed austerities, O king, they attained the highest perfection.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्
By fasting for a single night, one delivers a hundred families.