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—
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तिं भुक्तिं च विंदति । पिशाचमोचनं नाम तीर्थमन्यत्ततः स्थितम्
One is freed from all sins and attains both liberation and enjoyment. There is another holy place established there called Pisacha-mochana.
तत्राश्चर्यमयो देवो मुक्तिदः सर्वदोषहः । कश्चिद्दैत्यो जगामेदं शार्दूलो घोररूपधृक्
There, the wondrous deity grants liberation and removes all faults. A certain demon came there, taking on a terrifying form like a tiger.
मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । तत्र सा भीतहृदया कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
He sought to devour a lone deer near the excellent Kapardi Ishvara. That deer, her heart fearful, circled the linga again and again.
धावमाना सुसंभ्रांता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता । तां विदार्य नखैस्तीक्ष्णैः शार्दूलः स महाबलः
Running in great distress, she fell under the power of the tiger. That mighty tiger tore her with sharp claws.
जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान् । मृतमात्रा च सा बाला कपर्दीशाग्रतो मृगी
He went to another deserted place, seeing the great sages. The young deer, having died, lay before Kapardi Ishvara.
अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा । त्रिनेत्रा नीलकंठा च शशांकांकित मूर्द्धजा
A great flame was seen in the sky, shining like the sun. With three eyes and a blue throat, bearing the moon upon his hair.
वृषाधिरूढा पुरुषैस्तादृशैरेव संवृता । पुष्पवृष्टिं विमुंचंति खेचरास्तत्समंततः
Mounted upon a bull, surrounded by such men, celestial beings released showers of flowers all around.
गणेश्वरी स्वयं भूत्वा न दृष्टा तत्क्षणात्ततः । दृष्ट्वा तदाश्चर्यवरं प्रशशंसुः सुरादयः
Having become the mistress of the hosts herself, she was not seen from that moment onward. Seeing this wondrous event, the gods and others praised it.
तन्महेशस्य वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्मृत्वैवाशेषपापौघात्क्षिप्रमस्य विमुंचति
Merely by remembering that supreme liṅga of Maheśa, the Lord with matted hair, one is quickly released from all accumulated sins.
कामक्रोधादयो दोषा वाराणसी निवासिनाम् । विघ्नाः सर्वे विनश्यंति कपर्दीश्वरपूजनात्
Faults such as desire and anger, and all obstacles, are destroyed for those dwelling in Vārāṇasī by worship of the Lord with matted hair.