आगच्छेत्तदिदं स्थानं सेवितं मोक्षकांक्षिभिः । मृतानां च पुनर्जन्म न भूयो भवसागरे
One who comes to this place, served by those seeking liberation, for the dead, there is no rebirth again in the ocean of existence.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वाराणस्यां वसेन्नरः । योगी वाप्यथवायोगी पापी वा पुण्यकृत्तमः
Therefore, with all effort, a man should dwell in Varanasi; whether a yogi or not, a sinner or the most virtuous.
न लोकवचनात्पित्रोर्न चैव गुरुवादतः । मतिर्न क्रमणीया स्यादविमुक्तगतिं प्रति
One should not let one's mind be swayed toward a path that does not lead to liberation, whether by the words of the world, of one's parents, or even of one's teacher.
नारद उवाच- तत्रेदं विमलं लिगमोंकारंनाम शोभनम् । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः
Nārada said: There is here a pure emblem, called the auspicious Oṃkāra; by merely remembering it, one is freed from all sins.
एतत्परतरं ज्ञानं पंचायतनमुत्तमम् । सेवितं मुनिर्भिर्नित्यं वाराणस्यां विमोक्षणम्
This is the highest knowledge, the supreme fivefold altar, always served by sages in Vārāṇasī as the means of liberation.
तत्र साक्षान्महादेवः पंचायतनविग्रहः । रमते भगवान्रुद्रो जंतूनामपवर्गदः
There, Mahādeva himself, in the form of the fivefold altar, abides; the blessed Rudra, giver of liberation to beings, delights there.
एतत्पाशुपतं ज्ञानं पंचायतनमुच्यते । तदेतद्विमलं लिगमोंकारं समुपस्थितम्
This knowledge of Paśupati is called the fivefold altar; and this pure emblem, the Oṃkāra, is present there.
शांत्यतीता तथा शांतिर्विद्या चैवापरा वरा । प्रतिष्ठा च निवृत्तिश्च पंचात्मं लिंगमैश्वरम्
Transcendence of peace, peace itself, knowledge, supreme and other, establishment, and withdrawal—these five are the divine essence of the liṅga.
पंचानामपि लिंगानां ब्रह्मादीनां समाश्रयम् । ॐकारबोधकं लिंगं पंचायतनमुच्यते
Of the five liṅgas, which are the abodes of Brahmā and the others, the liṅga that reveals Oṃkāra is called the fivefold altar.
संस्मरेदीश्वरं लिंगं पंचायतनमव्ययम् । देहांते परमं ज्योतिरानंदं विशते बुधः
One should remember the Lord as the liṅga, the imperishable fivefold altar; at the end of the body, the wise one enters the supreme light, bliss.
तत्र देवर्षयः पूर्वं सिद्धाब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा । उपास्य देवमीशानमापुरंतः परं पदम्
There, the divine sages, and also the perfected Brahmarṣis of old, having worshipped the Lord Īśāna, attained the highest state.
मत्स्योदर्यास्तटे पुण्ये स्थानं गुह्यतमं शुभम् । गोचर्ममात्रं राजेंद्र ॐकारेश्वरमुत्तमम्
On the sacred bank of the Matsyodarī, in a most secret and auspicious place, O king, is the supreme Oṃkāreśvara, the size of a cowhide.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं मध्यमेश्वरमुत्तमम् । विश्वेश्वरं तथोंकारंकंदर्पेश्वरमेव च
There are the liṅga of Kṛttivāseśvara, the supreme Madhyameśvara, Viśveśvara, Oṃkāra, and also Kaṃdarpeśvara.
एतानि गुह्यलिंगानि वाराणस्यां युधिष्ठिर । न कश्चिदिह जानाति विना शंभोरनुग्रहात्
These are the secret liṅgas in Vārāṇasī, O Yudhiṣṭhira; no one knows them here except by the grace of Śambhu.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्यैव माहात्म्यं शृणु पार्थिव । तस्मिन्स्थाने पुरा दैत्यो हस्ती भूत्वा शिवांतिकम्
Hear, O king, the greatness of Kṛttivāseśvara; in that place, long ago, a demon took the form of an elephant and approached the abode of Śiva.
ब्राह्मणान्हंतुमायातो यत्र नित्यमुपासते । तेषां लिंगान्महादेवः प्रादुरासीत्त्रिलोचनः
He came to kill the Brāhmaṇas who constantly worshipped there; for their sake, Mahādeva, the three-eyed, appeared from their liṅgas.
रक्षणार्थं महादेवो भक्तानां भक्तवत्सलः । हत्वा गजाकृतिं दैत्यं शूलेनावज्ञया हरः
For the protection of his devotees, the compassionate Mahādeva, disregarding the demon in elephant form, slew him with his trident.
वासस्तस्याकरोत्कृत्तिं कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्ततः । तत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप्ता मुनयो हि युधिष्ठिर
He made the demon's hide his garment; thus he is called Kṛttivāseśvara. There, the sages attained the highest perfection, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
तेनैव च शरीरेण प्राप्तास्तत्परमं पदम् । विद्याविद्येश्वरा रुद्राः शिवा ये च प्रकीर्त्तिताः
With that very body, they attained the supreme state—those Rudras, lords of knowledge and ignorance, and the Śivas who are proclaimed.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं नित्यमाश्रित्य संस्थिताः । ज्ञात्वा कलियुगं घोरमधर्मबहुलं जनाः
Always established by taking refuge in the liṅga of Kṛttivāseśvara, knowing the dreadful Kali age, people full of unrighteousness.
कृत्तिवासं न मुंचंति कृतार्थास्ते न संशयः । जन्मांतरसहस्रेण मोक्षो यत्राप्यते न वा
Those who have attained their purpose do not abandon Krittivasa; of this there is no doubt. Liberation is not achieved here, nor elsewhere, even after a thousand births.
एकेन जन्मना मोक्षः कृत्तिवासेऽत्र लभ्यते । आलयं सर्वसिद्धानामेतत्स्थानं वदंति हि
Liberation is obtained here in a single birth for those who are with Krittivasa. This place is said to be the abode of all accomplished beings.
गोपितं देवदेवेन महादेवेन शंभुना । युगेयुगे ह्यत्र दांता ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
This is concealed by the god of gods, by the great lord Shambhu. In every age, restrained Brahmins who are accomplished in the Vedas are here.
उपासंते महात्मानं जपंति शतरुद्रियम् । स्तुवंति सततं देवं त्र्यंबकं कृत्तिवाससम् । ध्यायंति हृदये देवं स्थाणुं सर्वांतरं शिवम्
They worship the great soul, recite the Shatarudriya, constantly praise the god Tryambaka, Krittivasa, and meditate in their hearts upon the god Sthanu, Shiva, who dwells within all.
गायंति सिद्धाः किल गीतकानि वाराणसीं ये निवसंति विप्राः । तेषामथैकेन भवेद्विमुक्तिर्ये कृत्तिवासं शरणं प्रपन्नाः
Indeed, the accomplished ones sing songs, and the Brahmins who dwell in Varanasi—among them, liberation is attained by one who has sought refuge in Krittivasa.
संप्राप्य लोके जगतामभीष्टं सुदुर्लभं विप्रकुलेषु जन्म । ध्याने समाधाय जपंति रुद्रं ध्यायंति चित्ते यतयो महेशम्
Having obtained birth in the world, which is greatly desired and rare among Brahmin families, ascetics meditate, recite Rudra, and contemplate Mahesha in their minds.
आराधयंति प्रभुमीशितारं वाराणसीमध्यगता मुनींद्राः । यजंति यज्ञैरभिसंधिहीनाः स्तुवंति रुद्रं प्रणमंति शंभुम्
The great sages who reside in the midst of Varanasi worship the lord, the ruler, perform sacrifices without ulterior motive, praise Rudra, and bow to Shambhu.
नमो भवायामलयोगधाम्ने स्थाणुं प्रपद्ये गिरिशं पुराणम् । स्मरामि रुद्रं हृदये निविष्टं जाने महादेवमनेकरूपम्
Salutations to Bhava, the pure abode of yoga; I take refuge in Sthanu, the ancient lord of the mountains. I remember Rudra, established in my heart; I know Mahadeva, of many forms.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-fourth chapter in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Mahapurana.
नारद उवाच- अथान्यत्तत्र वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्नात्वा तत्र विधानेन तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्नृप
Narada said: Then, there is another excellent linga there, Kapardi Ishvara. After bathing there according to the prescribed method and offering oblations to the ancestors, O king—