तत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानामुत्तमं परिकीर्तितम्। त्यजंति तत्र ये प्राणान्प्राणिनः प्रणतास्तव
That sacred place is proclaimed as the highest among all holy sites; those living beings who surrender their lives there, O devoted one, are blessed.
रुद्रत्वं ते समासाद्य मोदंते भवता सह। तत्रापि हि तु यद्दत्तं दानं रुद्र यतात्मना
Having attained the state of Rudra, they rejoice together with you; and whatever gift is given there by one devoted to Rudra yields great reward.
स्यान्महच्च फलं तस्य भविता भावितात्मनः। स्वांगस्फुटित संस्कारं तत्र कुर्वंति ये नराः
For the one of purified mind, the fruit of such action is immense; those who perform their own rites there with clarity and sincerity.
ते रुद्रलोकमासाद्य मोदंते सुखिनः सदा। तत्र पूजा जपो होमः कृतो भवति देहिनां
They attain the realm of Rudra and always dwell in happiness; worship, recitation, and sacrificial offerings performed there by embodied beings are fulfilled.
अनंतफलदः स्वर्गो रुद्रभक्तियुतात्मनः। तत्र दीपप्रदाने तु ज्ञानचक्षुर्भवेन्नरः
Heaven yields endless rewards to those whose hearts are devoted to Rudra; and by offering lamps there, a person attains the eye of wisdom.
अव्यंगं तरुणं सौम्यं रूपवंतं तु गोसुतम्। योङ्कयित्वा मोचयति स याति परमं पदम्
Whoever liberates a flawless, youthful, gentle, and handsome calf, that person attains the supreme state.
पितृभिः सहितो मोक्षं गच्छते नात्र संशयः। अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन यत्तत्र क्रियते नरैः२०० 1.14.
He goes to liberation together with his ancestors; there is no doubt about this. Why speak at length? Whatever is performed there by people—
कर्मधर्मं समुद्दिश्य तदनंतफलं भवेत्। स्वर्गापवर्गयोर्हेतुस्तद्धि तीर्थम्मतं भुवि
When actions are performed according to duty, their result is endless; that sacred place is regarded as the cause of heaven and liberation on earth.
स्नानाज्जपात्तथा होमादनंतफलसाधनम्। गत्वा वाराणसीतीर्थं भक्त्या रुद्रपरायणाः
Bathing, recitation, and sacrificial offerings are means to endless rewards; those devoted to Rudra who go to the sacred site of Varanasi with faith—
ये तत्र पंचतां प्राप्ता भक्तास्ते नात्र संशयः। वसवः पितरो ज्ञेया रुद्राश्चैव पितामहाः
Those devotees who pass away there, there is no doubt; they are to be known as Vasus, ancestors, Rudras, and grandfathers.
प्रपितामहास्तथादित्या इत्येषा वैदिकी श्रुतिः। त्रिविधः पिंडदानाय विधिरुक्तो मयानघ
Great-grandfathers and Adityas likewise; this is the Vedic tradition. I have described the threefold rite for offering food to ancestors, O sinless one.
मानुषैः पिंडादानं तु कार्यमत्रागतैस्सदा। पिंडदानं च तत्रैव स्वपुत्रैः कार्यमादरात्
Humans who come there should always perform the offering of food to ancestors; and this offering should be made there by their own sons with reverence.
सुपुत्रास्ते पितॄणां तु भवंति सुखदायकाः। प्रोक्तं तीर्थं मया तुभ्यं दर्शनादपि मुक्तिदम्
Good sons bring happiness to their ancestors; the sacred site I have described to you grants liberation even by its mere sight.
स्नात्वा तु सलिले तत्र मुच्यते जन्मबंधनात्। विमुक्तो ब्रह्महत्यायास्तत्र रुद्र यथासुखम्
By bathing in its waters, one is freed from the bondage of birth; released from the sin of killing a Brahmin, there, O Rudra, as one pleases.
अविमुक्ते मया दत्ते तिष्ठ त्वं भार्यया सह। रुद्र उवाच। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि तेष्वहं विष्णुना सह
I have given Avimukta; remain there together with your wife. Rudra said: Among all the sacred places on earth, I dwell there with Vishnu.
तिष्ठामि भवतोक्तेन वर एष वृतो मया। अहं देवो महादेव आराध्यो भवता सदा
I remain there as you have requested; this boon has been granted by me. I am the great god, always to be worshipped by you.
वरं दास्यामि ते चाहं संतुष्टेनांतरात्मना। विष्णोश्चाहं प्रदास्यामि वरांश्च मनसीप्सितान्
I shall grant you a boon, for I am pleased within my heart; I shall bestow upon you the boons you desire from Viṣṇu as well.
सुराणां चैव सर्वेषां मुनीनां भवितात्मनाम्। अहं दाता अहं याच्यो नान्यो भाव्यः कथंचन
Among all the gods and sages who are devoted to the Self, I alone am the giver and the one to be approached for boons; no other should be considered in any way.
ब्रह्मोवाच। एवं करिष्येहं रुद्र यत्वयोक्तं वचः शुभम्। नारायणश्च ते वाक्यं कर्ता सर्वं न संशयः
Brahmā said: I shall do as you have said, O Rudra, your auspicious words; and Nārāyaṇa too will fulfill your request completely, without doubt.
विसृज्यैवं तदा रुद्रं ब्रह्मा चांतरधीयत। वाराणस्यां महादेवो गत्वा तीर्थं न्यवेशयत्
Having thus addressed Rudra, Brahmā then vanished; and Mahādeva went to Vārāṇasī and established a sacred site there.
भीष्म उवाच। किं कृतं ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मन्प्रेष्य वाराणसीपुरीम्। जनार्दनेन किं कर्म शंकरेण च यन्मुने
Bhīṣma said: What did Brahmā do, O Brāhmaṇa, after sending him to the city of Vārāṇasī? What actions did Janārdana and Śaṅkara perform, O sage?
कथं यज्ञः कृतस्तेन कस्मिंस्तीर्थे वदस्व मे। के सदस्या ऋत्विजश्च सर्वांस्तान्प्रब्रवीहि मे
Tell me, at which sacred place did he perform the sacrifice? Who were the members and officiating priests? Please describe them all to me.
के देवास्तर्पितास्तेन एतन्मे कौतुकं महत्। पुलस्त्य उवाच। श्रीनिधानं पुरं मेरोः शिखरे रत्नचित्रितम्
Which gods were satisfied by him? This is my great curiosity. Pulastya said: On the summit of Mount Meru was the city called Śrīnidhāna, adorned with jewels.
अनेकाश्चर्यनिलयंबहुपादपसंकुलम्। विचित्रधातुभिश्चित्रं स्वच्छस्फटिकनिर्मलम्
It was a dwelling of many wonders, thick with many trees, resplendent with various minerals, and clear as pure crystal.
लतावितानशोभाढ्यं शिखिशब्दविनादितम्। मृगेन्द्ररववित्रस्त गजयूथसमाकुलम्
Rich with the beauty of vine canopies, filled with the cries of peacocks, and crowded with herds of elephants startled by the roar of lions.
निर्झरांबुप्रपातोत्थ शीकरासारशीतलम्। वाताहततरुव्रात प्रसन्नापानचित्रितम्
Cooled by the fine spray from waterfalls and streams, its groves swayed by the wind, and adorned with delightful drinking places.
मृगनाभिवरामोद वासिताशेषकाननम्। लतागृहरतिश्रान्त सुप्तविद्याधराध्वगम्
The entire forest was perfumed with musk, and Vidyādharas, weary from love-play in vine bowers, lay asleep along the paths.
प्रगीतकिन्नरव्रात मधुरध्वनिनादितम्। तस्मिन्ननेकविन्यास शोभिताशेषभूमिकम्
The place resounded with the sweet music sung by groups of Kinnaras, and all the grounds were splendid with various arrangements.
वैराजं नाम भवनं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। तत्र दिव्यांगनोद्गीत मधुरध्वनि नादिता
There stood the palace called Vairāja, belonging to Brahmā the Supreme Lord, filled with the sweet sounds of celestial women singing.
पारिजाततरूत्पन्न मंजरीदाममालिनी। रत्नरश्मिसमूहोत्थ बहुवर्णविचित्रिता
Garlands of blossoms from Pārijāta trees adorned it, and it was decorated with a multitude of radiant, multicolored jewels.