अस्यतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं शृणु त्वं पांडुनंदन । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु राजेंद्र यान्यस्थीनि विनिक्षिपेत्
Hear now, O delight of the Pandus, the greatness of this sacred place; O king, when bones are deposited at that holy site—
विलयं यांति सर्वाणि रूपवान्जायते नरः । गोतीर्थं तु ततो गच्छेद्दृष्ट्वा पापात्प्रमुच्यते
All those bones dissolve, and a man is born with a beautiful form; then, having seen Gotirtha, he should proceed there and is freed from sin.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र कपिलातीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
After that, O king, he should go to the excellent Kapila Tirtha; there, O king, by bathing, a man obtains the merit of gifting a thousand cows.
ज्येष्ठमासे तु संप्राप्ते चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः । तत्रोपोष्य नरो भक्त्या कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति
When the month of Jyeshtha arrives, especially on the fourteenth day, if a man, having fasted with devotion, offers a Kapila cow there—
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 circumambulating—
घंटाभरणसंयुक्तां कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति । शिवतुल्यो नरो भूत्वा न चेह जायते पुनः
Whoever offers a Kapila cow adorned with a bell and ornaments becomes equal to Shiva and is not born here again.
अंगारकदिने प्राप्ते चतुर्थ्यां तु विशेषतः । स्नापयित्वा शिवं भक्त्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु भोजनम्
When the day of Angaraka arrives, especially on the fourth lunar day, after bathing Shiva with devotion, he should feed the Brahmins.
अंगारकनवम्यां तु अमावस्यां तथैव च । स्नापयेत्तत्र यत्नेन रूपवान्सुभगो भवेत्
On Angaraka Navami and likewise on Amavasya, one should carefully bathe there; he becomes handsome and fortunate.
घृतेन स्नापयेल्लिंगं पूजयेद्भक्तितो द्विजान् । पुष्पकेण विमानेन सहस्रैः परिवारितः
He should bathe the linga with ghee, worship the Brahmins with devotion, and, surrounded by thousands, rides in a celestial chariot.
शैवं पदमवाप्नोति नात्र चाभिगतं भवेत् । अक्षयं मोदते कालं यथा रुद्रस्तथैव च
He attains the Shaiva abode and does not return here; he enjoys endless bliss, just as Rudra does.
यदा तु कर्मसंयोगान्मर्त्यलोकमुपागतः । राजा भवति धर्मिष्ठो रूपवान्जायते बली
But when, through the conjunction of karma, he comes to the mortal world, he is born as a righteous king, handsome and strong.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र ऋषितीर्थमनुत्तमम् । तृणबिंदुऋषिर्नाम शापदग्धो व्यवस्थितः
Then, O king, he should go to the excellent Rishi Tirtha, where the sage named Trinabindu, cursed, had taken up residence.
तस्यतीर्थप्रभावेण पापमुक्तोऽभवद्द्विजः । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र गणेश्वरमनुत्तमम्
By the power of that tirtha, the twice-born was freed from sin; then, O king, he should go to the excellent Ganesha Lord.
श्रावणेमासि संप्राप्ते कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशीम् । स्नातमात्रो नरस्तत्र रुद्रलोके महीयते
When the month of Shravana arrives, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, merely by bathing there, a man is honored in the world of Rudra.
पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात् । गणेश्वरसमीपे तु गंगावदनमुत्तमम्
By performing the offering to the ancestors, he is freed from the threefold debt; near Ganesha Lord is the excellent mouth of the Ganga.
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 bathe there on festival days; by performing the offering to the ancestors, he is freed from the threefold debt.
प्रयागे यत्फलं दृष्टं शंकरेण महात्मना । तदेव निखिलं पुण्यं गंगाराह्वर्कसंगमे
The merit seen at Prayaga by the great-souled Shankara—that very same entire merit is found at the confluence called Gangarāhva.
तस्यैवं पश्चिमे स्थाने समीपेनातिदूरतः । दशाश्वमेधिकं नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
In the western part, not too far from there, is the place called Daśāśvamedhika, renowned in all three worlds.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां मासि भाद्रपदे तथा । अमावस्यां नरः स्नात्वा व्रजेद्वै यत्र शंकरः
After fasting for one night during the month of Bhādrapada, on the new moon, a man should bathe and go to the place where Śaṃkara resides.
सर्वदा पर्वदिवसे स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा अश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
One should always perform bathing there on festival days; after offering oblations to the ancestors, one attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
दशाश्वमेधात्पश्चिमतो भृगुर्ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु ईश्वरं पर्युपासत
To the west of Daśāśvamedhika, O best of Brāhmaṇas, Bhṛgu worshipped the Lord for a thousand divine 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, involving Umā and Śaṃkara.
गौरी तु पृच्छते देवं कोयमत्र तु संस्थितः । देवो वा दानवो वाथ कथयस्व महेश्वर
Gaurī asked the god, 'Who is present here? Is it a god or a demon? Tell me, O Maheśvara.'
ईश्वर उवाच-। भृगुर्नाम द्विजश्रेष्ठ ऋषीणां प्रवरो मुनिः । ध्यायते मां समाधिस्थो वरं प्रार्थयते प्रिये
Īśvara said: 'Bhṛgu is the name of this foremost Brāhmaṇa, an eminent sage among the ṛṣis. He meditates upon me in samādhi, seeking a boon, O beloved.'
तत्र प्रहसिता देवी ईश्वरं प्रत्यभाषत । धूमावर्तशिखा जाता ततोऽद्यापि न तुष्यसि । दुराराध्योऽसि तेन त्वं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Then the goddess smiled and spoke to Īśvara: 'A plume of smoke has arisen, yet even now you are not pleased. You are difficult to propitiate; therefore, there is no need for deliberation here.'
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 is dear to you.'
स्मारितो देवदेवेन धर्मरूपो वृषस्तदा । स्मरणादेव देवस्य वृषः शीघ्रमुपस्थितः
Then, at the remembrance of the Lord of gods, the bull, embodiment of Dharma, appeared; merely by remembering the god, the bull quickly arrived.
प्राहासौ मानुषीं वाचमादेशो दीयतां प्रभो । वल्मीकैश्छादितो विप्र एनं भूमौ निपातय
He spoke in human words: 'Give the command, O Lord. The Brāhmaṇa is covered by anthills; cast him down to the earth.'
योगस्थस्तु ततो ध्यायंस्ततस्तेन निपातितः । तत्क्षणात्क्रोधसंतप्तो हस्तमुत्क्षिप्तवान्वृषम्
Then, remaining in yoga and meditating, he was cast down by the bull; instantly, inflamed with anger, he raised his hand against the bull.