किं कुर्वंति हि शास्त्राणि सप्रमाणानि सुंदरि
What can the scriptures, even with proofs, accomplish, O beautiful one?
कः समुच्चलितं चेतस्तोयंवा संप्रतीपयेत्
Who can make the water of a mind that has surged up settle again?
शिवशर्मा व्रजन्सोथ देशाद्देशांतरं क्रमात् 4.1.7.
Śivaśarmā, journeying thus, went from land to land in turn.
कल्पेकल्पेखिलंविश्वं कालयेद्यः स्वलीलया
He who, in each cycle, dissolves the entire universe by his own play,
पापादवंती सा विश्वमवंतीति निगद्यते
She who lifts up from sin is said to lift up the world.
विपन्नो यत्र वै जंतुः प्राप्यापि शवतां स्फुटम्
Where a being, even after attaining a hundred bodies, perishes clearly,
यमदूता न यस्यां हि प्रविशंति कदाचन
Into which the messengers of Yama never enter at any time,
हाटकेशो महाकालस्तारके शस्तथैव च
Hāṭakeśa, Mahākāla, Tārakeśa, and likewise Śasta—
ज्योतिः सिद्धवटे ज्योतिस्ते पश्यंतीह ये द्विजाः
The twice-born who see the light at Siddhavaṭa, that very light—
महाकालस्य तल्लिंगं यैर्दृष्टं कष्टिभिः क्वचित
By whomsoever, even with difficulty, the liṅga of Mahākāla is seen—
महाकालपताकाग्रैः स्पृष्टपृष्ठास्तुरंगमाः
Horses whose backs are touched by the banners of Mahākāla.
महाकालमहाकालमहाकालेतिसंततम्
Constantly repeating: Mahākāla, Mahākāla, Mahākāla.
एवमाराध्य भूतेशं महाकालं ततो द्विजः 4.1.7.
Thus, having worshipped Bhūteśa, Mahākāla, then the twice-born.
युगेयुगे द्वारवत्या रत्नानि परितो मुषन् 4.1.7.
In every age, stealing jewels all around from Dvāravatī.
चिंतार्णवे निमग्नोभूत्त्यक्ताशो जीविते धने 4.1.7.
Immersed in the ocean of worry, abandoning hope for life and wealth.
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य पीडासीदतिदारुणा 4.1.7.
Thus, as he pondered, a very terrible pain arose for him.
तद्विमानमथारुह्य पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः
Then, ascending that celestial vehicle, clad in yellow, four-armed.
गणावूचतुः इमां गंधवतीं पुण्यां पुरीं वायोर्विलोकय
The Gaṇas spoke: Behold this fragrant, holy city of the wind.
अस्यां प्रभंजनो नाम जगत्प्राणोदिगीश्वरः
Here dwells Prabhaṃjana, lord of the directions, breath of the world.
पुरा कश्यपदायादः पूतात्मेति च विश्रुतः
Once, the descendant of Kaśyapa, renowned as Pūtaātman.
वाराणस्यां महाभागो वर्षाणामयुतं शतम्
In Vārāṇasī, the blessed one lived for a hundred thousand years.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पूतात्मा जायते नरः
By merely seeing him, a man becomes purified in soul.
उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा करुणामृतसागरः
He spoke, his mind serene, an ocean of the nectar of compassion.
अनेन तपसोग्रेण लिंगस्याराधनेन च
By this fierce austerity and by worship of the liṅga.
देवदेवमहादेव देवानामभयप्रद
God of gods, great god, giver of fearlessness to the gods.
वेदास्त्वां न च विंदंति किमात्मक इति प्रभो 4.1.13.
The Vedas do not find you, O Lord, wondering what your nature is.
ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोपि गिरां गोचरो न च वाक्पतेः
Even Brahmā and Viṣṇu are beyond the reach of words, and so is the lord of speech.
प्रसह्य प्रमिमीतेश भक्तिर्मांस्तुतिकर्मणि
O Lord, devotion alone compels me in acts of praise.
विश्वं त्वं नास्ति वै भेदस्त्वमेकः सर्वगो यतः
You are the universe; truly, there is no division, for you alone pervade all.
सर्गात्पुरा भवानेको रूपनाम विवर्जितः
Before creation, you alone existed, without form or name.