घृतेन दीपं प्रज्वाल्य घृतेन स्नापयेच्छिवम् । सघृतं श्रीफलं दत्वा कृत्वा चांते प्रदक्षिणम्
—lighting a lamp with ghee, bathing Shiva with ghee, giving a coconut with ghee, and finally performing circumambulation—
घंटाभरणसंयुक्तां कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति । शिवतुल्यो नरो भूत्वा न चेह जायते पुनः
One who gives a Kapila cow adorned with bell ornaments becomes equal to Shiva and is not born again in this world.
अंगारकदिने प्राप्ते चतुर्थ्यां तु विशेषतः । स्नापयित्वा शिवं भक्त्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु भोजनम्
When Mars' day arrives, especially on the fourth day, after bathing Shiva with devotion, one should feed Brahmins.
अंगारकनवम्यां तु अमावस्यां तथैव च । स्नापयेत्तत्र यत्नेन रूपवान्सुभगो भवेत्
On Mars' ninth day and likewise on the new moon, one should bathe Shiva there with effort and becomes handsome and fortunate.
घृतेन स्नापयेल्लिंगं पूजयेद्भक्तितो द्विजान् । पुष्पकेण विमानेन सहस्रैः परिवारितः
Bathing the linga with ghee, worshipping the twice-born with devotion, surrounded by thousands in a celestial chariot—
शैवं पदमवाप्नोति नात्र चाभिगतं भवेत् । अक्षयं मोदते कालं यथा रुद्रस्तथैव च
—one attains the Shaiva abode and does not return here; one enjoys inexhaustible happiness for a time, just as Rudra does.
यदा तु कर्मसंयोगान्मर्त्यलोकमुपागतः । राजा भवति धर्मिष्ठो रूपवान्जायते बली
When, by the conjunction of karma, one comes to the mortal world, one becomes a righteous king, is born beautiful, and strong.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र ऋषितीर्थमनुत्तमम् । तृणबिंदुऋषिर्नाम शापदग्धो व्यवस्थितः
Then, O king, one should go to the supreme Rishi sacred site, where the sage named Trinabindu, cursed, resides.
तस्यतीर्थप्रभावेण पापमुक्तोऽभवद्द्विजः । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र गणेश्वरमनुत्तमम्
By the power of that sacred place, the twice-born was freed from sin; then, O king, he should proceed to the supreme Lord of the Gaṇas.
श्रावणेमासि संप्राप्ते कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशीम् । स्नातमात्रो नरस्तत्र रुद्रलोके महीयते
When the month of Śrāvaṇa arrives, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, a man who bathes there is honored in the world of Rudra.
पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात् । गणेश्वरसमीपे तु गंगावदनमुत्तमम्
Having offered libations to the ancestors, one is released from the threefold debt; near the Lord of the Gaṇas is the excellent mouth of the Gaṅgā.
अकामो वा सकामो वा तत्र स्नात्वा तु मानवः । आजन्मजनितैः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Whether without desire or with desire, a man who bathes there is freed from sins accumulated since birth—of this there is no doubt.
सर्वदा पर्वदिवसे स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात्
One should always perform bathing there on festival days; having offered libations to the ancestors, one is released from the threefold debt.
प्रयागे यत्फलं दृष्टं शंकरेण महात्मना । तदेव निखिलं पुण्यं गंगाराह्वर्कसंगमे
The merit seen at Prayāga by the great-souled Śaṃkara—all that accumulated merit is found at the confluence called Gaṅgārāhva.
तस्यैवं पश्चिमे स्थाने समीपेनातिदूरतः । दशाश्वमेधिकं नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
In that same western region, not far from there, is the place called Daśāśvamedhika, renowned in the three worlds.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां मासि भाद्रपदे तथा । अमावस्यां नरः स्नात्वा व्रजेद्वै यत्र शंकरः
Having fasted for one night in the month of Bhādrapada, on the new moon, a man who bathes there surely attains the place where Śaṃkara resides.
सर्वदा पर्वदिवसे स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा अश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
One should always perform bathing there on festival days; having offered libations to the ancestors, one obtains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
दशाश्वमेधात्पश्चिमतो भृगुर्ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु ईश्वरं पर्युपासत
To the west of Daśāśvamedha, O best of Brāhmaṇas, the sage Bhṛgu worshipped the Lord for a divine thousand years.
वल्मीकावस्थितश्चासौ दक्षिणं च निकेतनम् । आश्चर्यं च महज्जातमुमायाः शंकरस्य च
He dwelt in an anthill, and his abode was to the south; a great and wondrous event occurred there, concerning Umā and Śaṃkara.
गौरी तु पृच्छते देवं कोयमत्र तु संस्थितः । देवो वा दानवो वाथ कथयस्व महेश्वर
Gaurī then asked the god: 'Who is this present here? Is he a god or a demon? Tell me, O great Lord.'
ईश्वर उवाच-। भृगुर्नाम द्विजश्रेष्ठ ऋषीणां प्रवरो मुनिः । ध्यायते मां समाधिस्थो वरं प्रार्थयते प्रिये
Īśvara said: 'This is Bhṛgu by name, the best of twice-born, foremost among sages; absorbed in meditation, he contemplates me and seeks a boon, dear one.'
तत्र प्रहसिता देवी ईश्वरं प्रत्यभाषत । धूमावर्तशिखा जाता ततोऽद्यापि न तुष्यसि । दुराराध्योऽसि तेन त्वं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Thereupon the goddess, smiling, addressed Īśvara: 'A column of smoke has arisen, yet even now you are not satisfied; therefore you are difficult to please—there is no need to consider further.'
देव उवाच-। न ज्ञायसे महादेवि अयं क्रोधेन चेष्टितः । दर्शयामि यथातथ्यं प्रियं ते च करोम्यहम्
The god said: 'You do not understand, O great goddess; this is done out of anger. I will show you the truth and do what pleases you.'
स्मारितो देवदेवेन धर्मरूपो वृषस्तदा । स्मरणादेव देवस्य वृषः शीघ्रमुपस्थितः
Then, at the remembrance of the god of gods, the bull, embodiment of dharma, appeared; by merely being remembered by the god, the bull quickly arrived.
प्राहासौ मानुषीं वाचमादेशो दीयतां प्रभो । वल्मीकैश्छादितो विप्र एनं भूमौ निपातय
He spoke human words: 'Give the command, O Lord; this Brāhmaṇa, covered by anthills, cast him down to the ground.'
योगस्थस्तु ततो ध्यायंस्ततस्तेन निपातितः । तत्क्षणात्क्रोधसंतप्तो हस्तमुत्क्षिप्तवान्वृषम्
Then, absorbed in yoga and meditating, he was cast down by him; at that moment, inflamed with anger, Bhṛgu raised his hand against the bull.
एवं संभाषमाणस्तु कुत्र गच्छसि भो वृष । अद्य त्वामथ पाप्मानं प्रत्यक्षं हन्म्यहं वृष
Thus, as he was speaking, he said, 'Where are you going, O bull? Today I will destroy you, evil one, right before my eyes.'
धर्षितस्तु तदा विप्रो ह्यंतरिक्षं गतं वृषम् । आकाशे प्रेक्षते भूय एतदद्भुतमुत्तमम्
Then, when the bull was attacked, the Brahmin saw the bull ascend into the sky; he gazed upward and beheld this most wondrous marvel.
ततः प्रहसिते रुद्रे ऋषिरग्रे व्यवस्थितः । तृतीयं लोचनं दृष्ट्वा वैलक्ष्यात्पतितो भुवि
Thereupon, as Rudra laughed, the sage stood before him; seeing the third eye, he was overcome with embarrassment and fell to the ground.
प्रणम्य दंडवद्भूमौ स्तुवते परमेश्वरम् । प्रणिपत्य भूतनाथं भवोद्भवं त्वामहं दिव्यरूपम् । भवभीतो भुवनपते भूतं विज्ञापये किंचित्
Prostrating himself flat on the earth, he praised the Supreme Lord: 'Having bowed to you, Lord of beings, source of the world, you of divine form, I, fearful of worldly existence, O Lord of the universe, wish to confess something to you.'