तीर्थानि तानि तान्यासन्परितः प्रार्थनावशात् ।। 1.3.1.7.
Those sacred places arose everywhere, by the force of prayer.
तीर्थानामुद्भवं सर्व श्रोतुं समुपचक्रमे
He began to narrate the origin of all the sacred places.
भगवन्ब्रूहि सकलं तीर्थानामुद्भवं मम
O Lord, tell me everything about the origin of the sacred places.
इति तस्या वचः शृण्वन्गिरीशात्संश्रुतं पुरा
Hearing her words, the Lord of the mountain recalled what had happened long ago.
तत्र स्नात्वा पुरा शक्रो ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहयत्
There, having bathed, Indra once cast off the sin of killing a Brahmin.
ब्रह्मतीर्थं पुनर्दिव्यं वह्निःकोणे समुत्थितम्
The divine Brahma Tirtha arose again in the southeast corner.
याम्यं नाम महातीर्थं यमभागे विजृंभते
The great Yamya Tirtha expands in the southern quarter belonging to Yama.
नैर्ऋतं तु महातीर्थं नैर्ऋत्यां दिशि शोभते
The great Nairrita Tirtha shines in the southwest direction.
पश्चिमे वारुणं तीर्थं दिग्भागे च प्रकाशते
In the western direction, the Varuna Tirtha is manifest.
वायवे वायवीयं च तीर्थमत्र प्रकाशते
Here, in the northwest, the Vayaviya Tirtha is revealed.
उत्तरे चात्र दिग्भागे सोमतीर्थमिति स्मृतम् 1.3.1.7.
And in the northern direction here, it is known as the Soma Tirtha.
ऐशाने चात्र दिग्भागे विष्णुतीर्थमिति स्मृतम्
And in the northeast direction here, it is remembered as the Vishnu Tirtha.
मार्कण्डेयः पुरा देवि प्रार्थयामास शंकरम्
Once, O Goddess, Markandeya prayed to Shankara.
बहूनामिह तीर्थानामेकत्र स्यात्समागमः
May there be a gathering of many sacred fords here in one place.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदेव उमापतिः
Hearing his words, the Lord of gods, the husband of Uma,
सन्निधिं मम संप्राप्तः सेवते गूढरूपतः
Has come into my presence, serving in a hidden form.
नान्यदन्वेषणीयं ते तीर्थमत्र महामुने
O great sage, you need not seek any other sacred ford here.
तस्माद्भक्तियुतैर्नित्यं सर्वतीर्थसमागमः
Therefore, for those endowed with devotion, there is always the gathering of all sacred fords.
इति देवि पुरा देवो मार्कडेयाय शंकरः
Thus, O Goddess, long ago, Shankara spoke to Markandeya.
सदोपहारवेलायां दृश्यानि किल मानवैः
At the time of offering, these are indeed visible to people.
व्रतं तीर्थं तपो वेदा यज्ञाश्च नियमादयः 1.3.1.7.
Vows, sacred fords, austerity, the Vedas, sacrifices, and observances—
निशम्य वाक्यं मुनिपुंगवस्य प्रसेदुषी पर्वतराजपुत्री
Hearing the words of the foremost sage, the daughter of the mountain was pleased.
अहं कृतार्था तपतां वरिष्ठ त्वत्संगमात्संप्रति तीर्थजालम्
O foremost of ascetics, I am fulfilled now by meeting you, the very network of sacred fords.
कथं गिरीशः पुनरत्र देवः स्फुरन्महावह्निवपुर्धरोऽपि
How is it that Lord Girisha, the god, appears here again, though he bears a blazing, fiery form?
आदिष्टस्तीर्थयात्रार्थमहं लिंगानि वीक्षितुम्
I was instructed to undertake a pilgrimage to view the liṅgas.
रुद्रक्षेत्रे च केदारे तथा बदरिकाश्रमे
I went to the Rudra-kshetra, to Kedara, and likewise to the hermitage at Badarika.
कांचीमुख्यासु पुण्यासु पुरीष्वप्यगमं तदा
At that time, I also visited the chief holy cities, foremost among them Kanchi.
स्थापितानि च लिंगानि स्वयंभूनि च दृष्टवान्
I beheld the liṅgas that were established, and those that are self-manifested.
सेवमानः सशिष्योऽहं पर्यटन्पृथिवीमिमाम्
Serving with my disciples, I wandered across this earth.
तपांसि यज्ञकर्माणि कुर्वन्भूमिं समाचरन्
Performing austerities and sacrificial rites, I traversed the land.