जाह्नवीनिर्झरोष्णीषः शर्वाणीजनकस्तथा
The Jāhnavī river, the waterfall, the crest, and the father of Śarvāṇī as well.
सर्वदेवमयो दिव्यः सर्वतीर्थमयः कृतः
He has been made divine, composed of all the gods, and embodying all sacred fords.
एवं संस्थाप्य शैलेंद्रं लिंगमूर्त्तिरहं स्थितः
Thus, having established the lord of mountains, I remained there in the form of the liṅga.
उदकं निर्मितं तत्र मंत्रपूर्णं मया प्रिये
There, beloved, I created water filled with mantras.
योत्रागत्य नरो भक्त्या सम्यङ्मां पूजयिष्यति तस्योदरे भविष्यामि लिंगरूपी न संशयः
Wherever a man comes there and worships me with devotion and proper conduct, I will dwell in his heart in the form of the liṅga—of this there is no doubt.
इत्युक्ते वचने देवि सदेवासुरपन्नगाः 5.2.67.
When these words were spoken, O Goddess, all the gods, asuras, and serpents—
विद्याधरगणाश्चैव मम दर्शनलालसाः
And the hosts of Vidyādharas, longing for my vision—
दृष्टोऽहं विधिना तैस्तु लिंगमूर्त्तिगतः प्रिये जनलोकगतैः सिद्धैः पूज्यमाना वरानने
I was seen by them, beloved, in the form of the liṅga, and by the perfected beings dwelling in the world of men, being worshipped, O beautiful-faced one.
अथ कालेन बहुना श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Then, after a long time, having heard of the supreme greatness—
मनुष्याः समुपायातास्ते रजोबहुला यतः
People came there, since they were full of passion.
कृतवांस्तद्भयार्थाय न च ते भीतिमागताः
They did this out of fear, yet they did not become fearful.
न तैर्दृष्टो महादेवि यतोऽहं महिषाकृतिः उद्विग्ना निश्वसन्तश्च वैराग्यं परमं गताः
By those people, O great goddess, I was not seen, for I had taken the form of a buffalo; they became agitated, sighing deeply, and attained supreme detachment.
नात्र देवो न तीर्थानि न गंगा पुण्यदायिनी
Here, there is no god, nor holy places, nor the Ganges that bestows merit.
एवं किल पुराणेषु श्रूयते सर्वदा श्रुतौ
Thus, it is always heard in the Purāṇas and in the Vedas.
एवं तु वदतां तेषां मानुषाणां यशस्विनि
While those people were speaking in this way, O illustrious one—
अमार्गं मा वदत्वत्र न निंद्याः श्रुतयोऽव्ययाः 5.2.67.
Do not speak what is improper here; the imperishable scriptures are not to be reviled.
ये निंदंति पुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि नास्तिकाः
Those who revile the Purāṇas and the Dharma-śāstras are unbelievers.
सदा देवोत्र केदारः स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकः
Here, Kedāra is always divine, bestowing heaven and liberation.
करोति पूजां हिमवान्मासानष्टौ च शाश्वतान् सेव्यश्च रमणीयश्च सर्वतीर्थनमस्कृतः
Himavat performs worship for eight eternal months; he is to be served, he is delightful, and is revered by all holy places.
सर्वरत्ननिधानश्च देवानां वल्लभस्तथा
He is the repository of all jewels and treasures, and likewise dear to the gods.
नियतेनैव कालेन मानुषाणां च सर्वदा
At the appointed time, and always, for human beings—
आख्यास्ये तदुपायं च श्रूयतां सावधानतः
I shall declare that means; listen to it with full attention.
क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं क्षेत्रं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
Among all sacred places, that field is the highest, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation.
तत्राहं संभविष्यामि लोकानामनुकंपया
There I shall manifest, out of compassion for the worlds.
सोमेश्वरस्य देवस्य पश्चिमे स्थानमुत्तमम्
In the westernmost and supreme abode of the god Someśvara—
सर्वदा दर्शनं तत्र मया सार्द्धं भविष्यति 5.2.67.
There, at all times, my presence will be seen together with me.
इह यावत्फलं तस्माद्दास्यामि ह्यधिकं ततः आकाशादुत्थितां दिव्यां मनःप्रह्रादकारिकाम्
Whatever fruit is gained here, I shall grant even greater than that: a divine, mind-delighting reward arising from the sky.
गता वनं महाकालं संस्मरन्तो महेश्वरम्
They went to the great forest, remembering Maheśvara.
स्नात्वा शिप्राजले पुण्ये यावत्पश्यन्ति भास्करम्
Having bathed in the holy waters of the Śiprā, as long as they beheld the sun—
अथ ते हर्षिताः प्रोचुः केदारोऽयं न संशयः
Then, delighted, they said: 'This is surely Kedāra, without doubt.'