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.'
त्वद्गुणनिकरान्वक्तुं कः शक्तो भवति मानुषो नाथ । वासुकिरयं हि कदाचिद्वदनसहस्रं भवेद्यस्य
Who among humans, O Lord, is able to speak of your countless virtues? Even Vāsuki, if he ever had a thousand mouths, could not do so.
भक्त्या तवापि शंकरभुवनपते त्वत्स्तुतौ तु मुखरस्य । वंद्य क्षमस्व भवन्प्रसीद मे तव चरणपतितस्य
Yet, O Śaṅkara, Lord of the worlds, even if I am talkative, let my devotion be accepted in your praise; forgive me, be gracious to me, as I have fallen at your feet.
सत्वं रजस्तमस्त्वं स्थित्युत्पत्तौ विनाशने देव । त्वां मुक्त्वा भुवनपते भुवनेश्वर नैव दैवतं किंचित्
You are sattva, rajas, and tamas; you are creation, preservation, and destruction, O God. Apart from you, Lord of the worlds, there is truly no other deity.
यमनियमयज्ञदानैर्वेदाभ्यासावधारणोद्योगात् । त्वद्भक्तेः सर्वमिदं नार्हति कलासहस्रांशेन
By yama, niyama, sacrifice, charity, study and diligent practice of the Vedas—none of this equals even a thousandth part of devotion to you.
उत्कृष्टरसरसायनखड्गांजनपादुकादि सिद्धिर्वा । चिह्नानि भवत्प्रणतानां दृश्यंत इह जन्मनि प्रकटम्
The highest elixirs, swords, collyrium, sandals, and other attainments—these are the visible marks in this very life of those who bow to you.
शाठ्येन नमति यद्यपि ददासि त्वं धर्ममिच्छतां देव । भक्तिर्भवच्छेदकरी मोक्षाय विनिर्मिता नाथ
Even if someone bows with deceit, you grant righteousness to those who desire it, O God; but devotion, which severs the bonds of existence, is made for liberation, O Lord.
परदारपरस्वरतं परिभवपरिदुःखशोकसंतप्तम् । परवदनवीक्षणपरं परमेश्वर मां परित्राहि
I am attached to others' wives and wealth, scorched by humiliation, pain, and sorrow, intent on not seeing others' faces—O Supreme Lord, save me.
अलीकाभिमानदग्धं क्षणभंगुरविभवविलसितं देव । क्रूरं कुपथाभिमुखं पतितं मां त्राहि देवेश
Burned by false pride, delighting in fleeting, fragile prosperity, cruel, inclined to evil ways, fallen—save me, O Lord of gods.
दीनेंद्रियगणसार्थैर्बंधुजनैरेव पूरिता आशा । तुच्छा तथापि शंकर किं मूढं मां विडंबयसि
My hopes are filled only with the pursuit of sense pleasures and kin; yet they are empty. Still, O Śaṅkara, why do you mock me, who am so deluded?
तृष्णां हरस्व शीघ्रं लक्ष्मीं मां देहि हृदयवासिनीं नित्याम् । छिंधि मदमोहपाशानुत्तारय मां महादेव
Quickly remove my craving; grant me Lakṣmī, who always dwells in the heart. Cut the bonds of pride and delusion; rescue me, O great Lord.