दुराधर्षतरः शैलः समंताद्दुरतिक्रमः
This mountain is exceedingly difficult to conquer and impossible to cross from all sides.
येन मार्गेण विश्रब्धं गमिष्यामः सुमध्यमे
By which path, O slender-waisted one, shall we confidently proceed?
त्वयाप्युक्तं महादेव कुण्डः शप्तो मया गणः । ममाज्ञा न कृता यस्माद्विफलं न वचो मम
You also said, O Mahādeva, 'Kuṇḍa is cursed by me, the attendant; since my command was not obeyed, my word is fruitless.'
भैरवं रूपमास्थाय यत्र त्वं चोत्तरे स्थितः 5.2.40.
Assuming the form of Bhairava, you stood in the north.
तस्य दर्शन मात्रेण गणपोऽयं भविष्यति
By merely seeing him, this attendant will become a leader of attendants.
इत्युक्तः स त्वया देवि समासाद्य पुनःपुनः
Thus addressed by you, O goddess, he approached again and again.
महाकालवनं शीघ्रं लिंगमाराध्य सत्वरम्
He quickly worshipped the liṅga in the great Kāla forest with urgency.
इत्युक्तस्तत्क्षणात्प्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा लिङ्गं तु शाश्वतम्
Thus instructed, he arrived at that moment and saw the eternal liṅga.
ततो देवाः सगंधर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः
Then the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and supreme sages.
अथाहं तत्क्षणात्प्राप्तस्त्वया सार्द्धं गणैर्वृतः
Then I arrived at that moment, surrounded by you and the attendants.
समाधिध्याननिरतं प्रोक्तमस्माभिरादरात्
Absorbed in meditation and contemplation, he was addressed by us with respect.
अक्षयं तु पदं प्राप्तं त्वया लिंगस्य दर्शनात् नाम्ना कुण्डेश्वरो यस्मात्सर्वसंपत्करः सदा
You have attained the imperishable state by seeing the liṅga; because of the name Kuṇḍeśvara, it always bestows all prosperity.
कुण्डेश्वरमनादिं तु भक्त्या पश्यति यो नरः
Whoever, with devotion, beholds Kuṇḍeśvara, the beginningless one,
तस्य दानफलं सर्वं सर्वतीर्थफलं सदा 5.2.40.
He always obtains the fruit of all gifts and the merit of all sacred waters.
दशानामश्वमेधानामग्निष्टोमशतस्य च
Of ten horse sacrifices and a hundred Agniṣṭoma rituals,
प्रातः पश्यंति ये भक्त्या कृत्वा नियमपूर्वकम्
Those who, with devotion and proper observance, behold in the morning—
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
This, O Goddess, I have told you—the power that destroys sin.
लुंपेश्वरमिति ख्यातं नाम यस्य महीतले
On earth, there was one known by the name Luṃpeśvara.
देशे म्लेच्छगणाकीर्णे बभूव जगतीपतिः
In a land crowded with groups of mlecchas, he became lord of the world.
तस्यासीद्दयिता भार्या विशालानाम नामतः
He had a beloved wife, named Viśālā.
स युद्धकामो नृपतिः पर्यपृच्छद्विजोत्तमान्
That king, desiring battle, questioned the foremost of twice-born men.
अथ केनापि कथितमाश्रमे सामगो द्विजः
Then, in an āśrama, a certain chanting Brahmin told him something.
ततः स प्रस्थितो राजा म्लेच्छैः सार्द्धं सहस्रशः
Thereupon, the king set out, together with thousands of mlecchas.
दस्युभिः संवृतः क्रूरैः क्रोधेनाकुलितेंद्रियः
Surrounded by fierce bandits, his senses agitated by anger,
मुनिना पूजितस्तेन मधुपर्कादिविष्टरैः
He was honored by the sage with offerings such as madhuparka.
प्रार्थयामास सहसा न दत्ता मुनिना तदा वनं बभंज सकलं तस्य विप्रस्य पश्यतः
He suddenly made a request, but the sage did not grant it; then, before the sage’s eyes, he destroyed the entire forest.
काल्यमानां च गां दृष्ट्वा वत्सं चातीव दुःखितम् 5.2.41.
Seeing the cow being tormented, and the calf extremely distressed,
एवं वदंतं विप्रेंद्रं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्जघान ह
As the chief of Brahmins spoke thus, he struck him with sharp arrows.
असकृत्पुत्रपुत्रेति विलपंतमनाथवत्
Again and again, like one bereft, he lamented, 'My son, my son!'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे पुत्रः समित्पाणिरुपागतः अनागसं महात्मानं विललाप सुदुःखितः
Meanwhile, the son approached, carrying sacrificial fuel; seeing the great-souled, innocent one, he wept in deep sorrow.