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.
आराधयंति प्रभुमीशितारं वाराणसीमध्यगता मुनींद्राः । यजंति यज्ञैरभिसंधिहीनाः स्तुवंति रुद्रं प्रणमंति शंभुम्
The great sages dwelling in the midst of Varanasi worship the Lord, the Supreme Ruler; they perform sacrifices without selfish 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, who assumes many forms.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-fourth chapter in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
नारद उवाच- अथान्यत्तत्र वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्नात्वा तत्र विधानेन तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्नृप
Narada said: Then there is another excellent linga there, known as Kapardishvara; after bathing there according to the prescribed rite and offering libations 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 the Piśācamocana Tirtha.
तत्राश्चर्यमयो देवो मुक्तिदः सर्वदोषहः । कश्चिद्दैत्यो जगामेदं शार्दूलो घोररूपधृक्
There, the wondrous Lord, the giver of liberation and destroyer of all faults, is present; once, a certain demon came there, taking the terrifying form of a tiger.
मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । तत्र सा भीतहृदया कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
Desiring to devour a certain doe, the excellent Kapardishvara, that doe, her heart seized by fear, circled the linga again and again.
धावमाना सुसंभ्रांता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता । तां विदार्य नखैस्तीक्ष्णैः शार्दूलः स महाबलः
Fleeing in great panic, she fell under the power of the tiger; that mighty beast tore her apart with his sharp claws.
जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान् । मृतमात्रा च सा बाला कपर्दीशाग्रतो मृगी
Then, seeing the great sages, the tiger went to another deserted place; and that young doe, having just died, lay before Kapardishvara.
अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा । त्रिनेत्रा नीलकंठा च शशांकांकित मूर्द्धजा
A great flame appeared in the sky, shining like the sun; three-eyed, blue-throated, with the moon adorning his matted hair.