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.
रक्षणार्थं महादेवो भक्तानां भक्तवत्सलः । हत्वा गजाकृतिं दैत्यं शूलेनावज्ञया हरः
For the sake of protecting the devotees, Mahadeva, who cherishes his devotees, slew the demon in elephant form with his trident, out of disdain.
वासस्तस्याकरोत्कृत्तिं कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्ततः । तत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप्ता मुनयो हि युधिष्ठिर
He made the demon's skin his garment; thus he is called Krittivaseshvara. There, the sages, O Yudhishthira, attained the highest accomplishment.
तेनैव च शरीरेण प्राप्तास्तत्परमं पदम् । विद्याविद्येश्वरा रुद्राः शिवा ये च प्रकीर्त्तिताः
With that very body, they attained the supreme state; the Rudras, lords of knowledge and ignorance, and those called Shiva.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं नित्यमाश्रित्य संस्थिताः । ज्ञात्वा कलियुगं घोरमधर्मबहुलं जनाः
They are always established, relying on the emblem of Krittivaseshvara; knowing the dreadful Kali age, full of unrighteousness, the people.
कृत्तिवासं न मुंचंति कृतार्थास्ते न संशयः । जन्मांतरसहस्रेण मोक्षो यत्राप्यते न वा
They do not abandon Krittivasa; they are fulfilled, without doubt. Whether liberation is attained in a thousand births or not.
एकेन जन्मना मोक्षः कृत्तिवासेऽत्र लभ्यते । आलयं सर्वसिद्धानामेतत्स्थानं वदंति हि
Liberation is attained here at Krittivasa in a single birth; this place is said to be the abode of all accomplishments.
गोपितं देवदेवेन महादेवेन शंभुना । युगेयुगे ह्यत्र दांता ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
It is concealed by the god of gods, by Mahadeva Shambhu; in every age, disciplined Brahmins, 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 on the god Sthanu, Shiva, who dwells in all.
गायंति सिद्धाः किल गीतकानि वाराणसीं ये निवसंति विप्राः । तेषामथैकेन भवेद्विमुक्तिर्ये कृत्तिवासं शरणं प्रपन्नाः
The accomplished ones sing songs, and the Brahmins who dwell in Varanasi; for 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 attained the most desired and rare birth among the worlds, in a Brahmin family, ascetics recite Rudra in meditation, and meditate in their minds on Mahesha.