भ्रूमध्ये नाभिमध्ये च हृदये चैव मूर्धनि । यथाविमुक्तमादित्ये वाराणस्यां व्यवस्थितम्
As Avimukta is established in the center of the brows, the navel, the heart, and the head, so too is it present in the sun in Varanasi.
वरणायास्तथा चास्या मध्ये वाराणसीपुरी । तत्रैव संस्थितं तत्त्वं नित्यमेवंविमुक्तकम्
In the midst of the Varana and Asi rivers lies the city of Varanasi; there, the truth is eternally established as Avimukta.
वाराणस्याः परं स्थानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । यत्र नारायणो देवो महादेवो दिवीश्वरः
There has never been, nor will there be, a place higher than Varanasi, where Narayana, Mahadeva, and the Lord of heaven dwell.
तत्र देवाः सगंधर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः । उपासते यं सततं देवदेवः पितामहः
There, the gods, along with Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshasas, constantly worship the Lord of gods, the Grandfather.
महापातकिनो देवि ये तेभ्यः पापकृत्तमाः । वाराणसीं समासाद्य ते यांति परमां गतिम्
O Goddess, even those who are the most sinful among great sinners, upon reaching Varanasi, attain the highest state.
तस्मान्मुमुक्षुर्नियतो वसेद्वै मरणांतकम् । वाराणस्यां महादेवाज्ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा विमुच्यते
Therefore, one who seeks liberation should dwell there with discipline until death; having obtained knowledge from Mahadeva in Varanasi, one is set free.
किंतु विघ्ना भविष्यंति पापोपहतचेतसः । ततो नैवाचरेत्पापं कायेन मनसा गिरा
However, obstacles will arise for those whose minds are afflicted by sin; therefore, one should not commit sin by body, mind, or speech.
एतद्रहस्यं देवानां पुराणानां च सुव्रते । अविमुक्ताश्रयं ज्ञानं न कश्चिद्वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
This is the secret of the gods and the Puranas, O virtuous one; no one truly knows the knowledge that abides in Avimukta.
नारद उवाच-। देवतानामृषीणां च शृण्वतां परमेष्ठिनाम् । देवदेवेन कथितं सर्वपापविनाशनम्
Narada said: While the gods, sages, and exalted beings were listening, the god of gods spoke this, which destroys all sins.
यथानारायणः श्रेष्ठो देवानां पुरुषोत्तमः । यथेश्वराणां गिरिशः स्थानानामेतदुत्तमम्
Just as Narayana is the highest among the gods, the supreme person, so among holy places, this is the foremost, as Girisha is among lords.
यैः समाराधितो रुद्रः पूर्वस्मिन्नेकजन्मनि । ते विदंति परं क्षेत्रमविमुक्तं शिवालयम्
Those who worshipped Rudra in a previous birth, they know the supreme field—Avimukta, the abode of Shiva.
कलिकल्मषसंभूता येषामुपहृता मतिः । न तेषां वेदितुं शक्यं स्थानं तत्परमेष्ठिनः
Those whose minds have been corrupted by the sins of Kali age are not able to know that place of the Supreme Lord.
ये स्मरंति सदा कालं वदंति च पुरीमिमाम् । तेषां विनश्यति क्षिप्रमिहामुत्र च पातकम्
Those who always remember the time and speak of this city, for them, sin is quickly destroyed here and hereafter.
यानि चेह प्रकुर्वंति पातकानि कृतालयाः । नाशयेत्तानि सर्वाणि देवः कालतनुः शिवः
Whatever sins are committed here by those who dwell in this place, Shiva, the god in the form of Time, destroys them all.
आगच्छेत्तदिदं स्थानं सेवितं मोक्षकांक्षिभिः । मृतानां च पुनर्जन्म न भूयो भवसागरे
One who comes to this place, which is served by seekers of liberation, does not take birth again in the ocean of existence after death.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वाराणस्यां वसेन्नरः । योगी वाप्यथवायोगी पापी वा पुण्यकृत्तमः
Therefore, by every effort, a person should reside in Varanasi—whether a yogi or not, whether sinful or most virtuous.
न लोकवचनात्पित्रोर्न चैव गुरुवादतः । मतिर्न क्रमणीया स्यादविमुक्तगतिं प्रति
One’s mind should not be diverted from the path to Avimukta by the words of people, ancestors, or even teachers.
नारद उवाच- तत्रेदं विमलं लिगमोंकारंनाम शोभनम् । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः
Narada said: There is here the pure linga called Omkara, resplendent, by whose mere remembrance one is freed from all sins.
एतत्परतरं ज्ञानं पंचायतनमुत्तमम् । सेवितं मुनिर्भिर्नित्यं वाराणस्यां विमोक्षणम्
This is the supreme knowledge, the highest fivefold altar, constantly served by sages in Varanasi for liberation.
तत्र साक्षान्महादेवः पंचायतनविग्रहः । रमते भगवान्रुद्रो जंतूनामपवर्गदः
There, Mahadeva 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 Pashupata is called the fivefold altar; thus, this pure linga Omkara is present here.
शांत्यतीता तथा शांतिर्विद्या चैवापरा वरा । प्रतिष्ठा च निवृत्तिश्च पंचात्मं लिंगमैश्वरम्
Transcendent peace, peace itself, supreme knowledge, establishment, and withdrawal—these five are the divine linga’s essences.
पंचानामपि लिंगानां ब्रह्मादीनां समाश्रयम् । ॐकारबोधकं लिंगं पंचायतनमुच्यते
The emblem of the five forms, from Brahma onward, is established together; the emblem that reveals Om is called the five-shrines.
संस्मरेदीश्वरं लिंगं पंचायतनमव्ययम् । देहांते परमं ज्योतिरानंदं विशते बुधः
One should remember the divine emblem, the immutable five-shrines; at the end of the body, the wise enter the supreme light and bliss.
तत्र देवर्षयः पूर्वं सिद्धाब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा । उपास्य देवमीशानमापुरंतः परं पदम्
There, the divine sages and the accomplished Brahmarshis, having worshipped the Lord Ishana, attained the highest state within.
मत्स्योदर्यास्तटे पुण्ये स्थानं गुह्यतमं शुभम् । गोचर्ममात्रं राजेंद्र ॐकारेश्वरमुत्तमम्
On the sacred bank of the Matsya lake, O king, is a most secret and auspicious place, measuring the size of a cowhide, called the supreme Omkareshvara.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं मध्यमेश्वरमुत्तमम् । विश्वेश्वरं तथोंकारंकंदर्पेश्वरमेव च
The emblem of Krittivaseshvara, the supreme Madhyameshvara, Vishveshvara, Omkara, and Kandarpeshvara as well.
एतानि गुह्यलिंगानि वाराणस्यां युधिष्ठिर । न कश्चिदिह जानाति विना शंभोरनुग्रहात्
These are the secret emblems in Varanasi, O Yudhishthira; no one here knows them except by the grace of Shambhu.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्यैव माहात्म्यं शृणु पार्थिव । तस्मिन्स्थाने पुरा दैत्यो हस्ती भूत्वा शिवांतिकम्
Hear the greatness of Krittivaseshvara, O king; in that place, long ago, a demon became an elephant and approached Shiva.
ब्राह्मणान्हंतुमायातो यत्र नित्यमुपासते । तेषां लिंगान्महादेवः प्रादुरासीत्त्रिलोचनः
He came to slay the Brahmins, whom he always worshipped there; for them, Mahadeva, the three-eyed, appeared in the emblem.