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.'
ततस्ते पूजयामासुः पुष्पैर्नानाविधैस्तथा
Then they worshipped with flowers of many kinds, likewise.
दुर्लभोऽतिवरो दत्तः कैलासे स्थानमुत्तमम्
A rare and supreme boon was granted: the highest place on Kailāsa.
अतोऽहं त्रिदशैः प्रोक्तः केदारेश्वरना मतः
Therefore, among the gods, I am called by the name Kedāreśvara.
इहागत्य नरा ये च त्वां पश्यंति सुभक्तितः
Those men who come here and behold you with true devotion—
हिमाद्रौ हिमनाथस्य यात्रायाः प्रत्यहं फलम्
The daily fruit of pilgrimage to Hima-nātha on the Himalaya—
ब्रह्महा वा सुरापो वा स्ते यी वा गुरुतल्पगः 5.2.67.
Whether a slayer of a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, or one who has violated the teacher’s bed—
सोऽपि याति परं स्थानं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् तत्फलं समवाप्नोति केदारेश्वरदर्शनात्
Even he attains the supreme state, free from return; that fruit is obtained by the sight of Kedāreśvara.
ते नराः पशवो लोके तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम्
Those men are like beasts in the world; their birth is in vain.
कौमारे यौवने बाल्ये वार्द्धके यदुपार्जितम्
Whatever is acquired in childhood, youth, adolescence, or old age,
हिमालयकृता यात्रा तस्याः प्रोक्तं च यत्फलम्
The pilgrimage to the Himalayas and the fruit declared for it,