रम्यं प्रियङ्गुतरुमञ्जरिसक्तभृङ्गं भृङ्गावलीकवलिताम्रकदम्बपुष्पम्
Beautiful with clusters of Priyangu trees where bees clung, and the blossoms of mango and Kadamba trees were enveloped by swarms of bees.
पुष्पोत्करानिलविघूर्णितवारिरम्यं रम्यद्विरेफविनिपातितमञ्जुगुल्मम् गुल्मान्तरप्रसभभीतमृगीसमूहं वातेरितं तनुभृतामपवर्गदातृ
Lovely with waters stirred by breezes carrying heaps of flowers, with charming thickets where intoxicated bees fell, and among the bushes, herds of frightened deer scattered, driven by the wind.
चन्द्रांशुजालशबलैस् तिलकैर् मनोज्ञैः सिन्दूरकुङ्कुमकुसुम्भनिभैर् अशोकैः चामीकरद्युतिसमैरथ कर्णिकारैः पुष्पोत्करैरुपचितं सुविशालशाखैः
Adorned with enchanting Tilaka trees, dappled by the moon’s rays, with Ashoka trees the color of vermilion, saffron, and red dye, and with Karnikara trees shining like gold, the place was filled with heaps of blossoms and broad branches.
क्वचिदञ्जनचूर्णाभैः क्वचिद् विद्रुमसन्निभैः क्वचित्काञ्चनसंकाशैः पुष्पैर् आचितभूतलम्
In some places, the ground was covered with flowers like black collyrium, in others like coral, and elsewhere like gold.
पुन्नागेषु द्विजशतविरुतं रक्ताशोकस्तबकभरनतम् रम्योपान्तक्लमहारभवनं फुल्लाब्जेषु भ्रमरविलसितम्
Among the Punnaga trees, the air was filled with the cries of many birds; the branches of red Ashoka trees were weighed down, and in the pleasant groves, bees played among blooming lotuses.
सकलभुवनभर्ता लोकनाथस्तदानीं तुहिनशिखरपुत्र्या सार्धमिष्टैर्गणेशैः विविधतरुविशालं मत्तहृष्टान्नपुष्टैर् उपवनम् अतिरम्यं दर्शयामास देव्याः
Then, the Lord of all worlds, accompanied by the daughter of the snowy peak, and with the beloved Ganeshas, showed the goddess a most delightful grove, vast with various trees and filled with exuberant, well-nourished animals.
पुष्पैर्वन्यैः शुभशुभतमैः कल्पितैर्दिव्यभूषैर् देवीं दिव्यामुपवनगतां भूषयामास शर्वः सा चाप्येनं तुहिनगिरिसुता शङ्करं देवदेवं पुष्पैर्दिव्यैः शुभतरतमैर् भूषयामास भक्त्या
With forest flowers, both auspicious and most auspicious, fashioned as divine ornaments, Shiva adorned the goddess, who had entered the grove; and she, the daughter of the snowy mountain, with devotion, adorned Shankara, the god of gods, with the most excellent divine flowers.
सम्पूज्य पूज्यं त्रिदशेश्वराणां सम्प्रेक्ष्य चोद्यानम् अतीव रम्यम् गणेश्वरैर् नन्दिमुखैश् च सार्धम् उवाच देवं प्रणिपत्य देवी
Having worshipped the most worshipful of the gods, and gazed upon the exceedingly beautiful garden, the goddess, together with the Ganeshas and Nandimukha, bowed and spoke to the god.
उद्यानं दर्शितं देव प्रभया परया युतम् क्षेत्रस्य च गुणान्सर्वान् पुनर्मे वक्तुमर्हसि
O Lord, you have shown me the garden, radiant with supreme splendor; now, please tell me again all the virtues of this sacred place.
अस्य क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यम् अविमुक्तस्य सर्वथा वक्तुमर्हसि देवेश देवदेव वृषध्वज
O Lord of gods, god of gods, bearer of the bull-banner, you must fully tell me the greatness of this field, Avimukta.
देव्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवदेवो वरप्रभुः आघ्राय वदनाम्भोजं तदाह गिरिजां हसन्
Hearing those words of the goddess, the god of gods, the bestower of boons, inhaled the fragrance of her lotus-like face and, smiling, spoke to Girijā.
इदं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं सदा वाराणसी मम सर्वेषामेव जन्तूनां हेतुर्मोक्षस्य सर्वदा
This most secret field, Vārāṇasī, is always mine; it is ever the cause of liberation for all beings.
अस्मिन्सिद्धाः सदा देवि मदीयं व्रतमास्थिताः नानालिङ्गधरा नित्यं मम लोकाभिकाङ्क्षिणः
Here, O goddess, those who have perfected themselves, ever established in my vow, bearing various emblems, always desiring my world, abide.
अभ्यस्यन्ति परं योगं युक्तात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णे नानाविहगशोभिते
They practice supreme yoga here, their minds united, their senses conquered, in a place filled with many trees and adorned with various birds.
कमलोत्पलपुष्पाढ्यैः सरोभिः समलंकृते अप्सरोगणगन्धर्वैः सदा संसेविते शुभे
Adorned with lakes rich in lotuses and water-lilies, ever served by hosts of apsarases and gandharvas, this auspicious place shines.
रोचते मे सदा वासो येन कार्येण तच्छृणु मन्मना मम भक्तश् च मयि नित्यार्पितक्रियः
I always delight to dwell here; hear the reason for this: my mind is set here, and my devotee, ever offering his actions to me, abides here.
यथा मोक्षमवाप्नोति अन्यत्र न तथा क्वचित् कामं ह्यत्र मृतो देवि जन्तुर्मोक्षाय कल्पते
Nowhere else, O goddess, does one attain liberation as here; indeed, one who dies here, even by desire, is destined for liberation.
एतन्मम पुरं दिव्यं गुह्याद्गुह्यतमं महत् ब्रह्मादयो विजानन्ति ये च सिद्धा मुमुक्षवः
This is my divine city, most secret among secrets, great indeed; Brahmā and others know it, as do the perfected ones and those seeking liberation.
अतः परमिदं क्षेत्रं परा चेयं गतिर्मम विमुक्तं न मया यस्मान् मोक्ष्यते वा कदाचन
Therefore, this field is supreme, and this is my highest goal; it is called Avimukta, for I never abandon it, nor do I ever release it.
मम क्षेत्रमिदं तस्माद् अविमुक्तमिति स्मृतम् नैमिषे च कुरुक्षेत्रे गङ्गाद्वारे च पुष्करे
Therefore, this is my field, known as Avimukta; not in Naimisha, Kurukshetra, Gangadvara, or Pushkara—
स्नानात्संसेवनाद्वापि न मोक्षः प्राप्यते यतः इह सम्प्राप्यते येन तत एतद्विशिष्यते
Because by bathing or serving in those places, liberation is not attained; but here, by what is attained, this place surpasses them.
प्रयागे वा भवेन्मोक्ष इह वा मत्परिग्रहात् प्रयागादपि तीर्थाग्र्याद् अविमुक्तमिदं शुभम्
Liberation may be obtained at Prayāga or here by my acceptance; yet, even above Prayāga, the foremost of sacred fords, this auspicious Avimukta excels.
धर्मस्योपनिषत् सत्यं मोक्षस्योपनिषच् छमः क्षेत्रतीर्थोपनिषदं न विदुर्बुधसत्तमाः
Truth is the Upaniṣad of dharma; tranquility is the Upaniṣad of liberation; but the best of the wise do not know the Upaniṣad of this sacred field and ford.
कामं भुञ्जन् स्वपन् क्रीडन् कुर्वन् हि विविधाः क्रियाः अविमुक्ते त्यजेत्प्राणान् जन्तुर्मोक्षाय कल्पते
Whether enjoying, sleeping, playing, or performing various actions, if a being gives up life at Avimukta, he is destined for liberation.
कृत्वा पापसहस्राणि पिशाचत्वं वरं नृणाम् न तु शक्रसहस्रत्वं स्वर्गे काशीपुरीं विना
Even after committing thousands of sins, it is better for men to become a ghost than to attain the lordship of a thousand Indras in heaven without Kāśī city.
तस्मात्संसेवनीयं हि अविमुक्तं हि मुक्तये जैगीषव्यः परां सिद्धिं गतो यत्र महातपाः
Therefore, Avimukta must indeed be served for liberation; here the great ascetic Jaigīṣavya attained supreme accomplishment.
अस्य क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्याद् भक्त्या च मम भावितः जैगीषव्यगुहा श्रेष्ठा योगिनां स्थानमिष्यते
Because of the greatness of this field and devotion to me, the cave of Jaigīṣavya is considered the best among yogins, the desired place.
ध्यायन्तस्तत्र मां नित्यं योगाग्निर्दीप्यते भृशम् कैवल्यं परमं याति देवानामपि दुर्लभम्
There, constantly meditating on me, the fire of yoga blazes intensely; one attains the highest liberation, rare even for the gods.
अव्यक्तलिङ्गैर्मुनिभिः सर्वसिद्धान्तवेदिभिः इह सम्प्राप्यते मोक्षो दुर्लभो ऽन्यत्र कर्हिचित्
Here, liberation is attained by sages who know all doctrines, through subtle signs of the linga; elsewhere, it is rarely achieved.
तेभ्यश्चाहं प्रवक्ष्यामि योगैश्वर्यमनुत्तमम् आत्मनश्चैव सायुज्यम् ईप्सितं स्थानमेव च
To them, I shall declare the supreme power of yoga, union with the Self, and the very place that is desired.