लिंगं समर्चितं दृष्ट्वा यः कुर्यात्प्रणतिं सकृत्
Whoever, upon seeing a worshipped liṅga, offers even a single bow,
लिंगं यः स्थापयेद्भक्त्या सप्तजन्मकृतादघात्
Whoever installs a liṅga with devotion is freed from sins accumulated over seven births.
विचार्येति गणैः काश्यां स्वामिद्रोहोपशांतये
Thus, considering with the Gaṇas in Kāśī, for the pacification of betrayal against the Lord,
कुंडोदरेश्वरं लिंगं दृष्ट्वा लोलार्कसन्निधौ
Upon seeing the liṅga of Kuṇḍodareśvara in the presence of the restless sun,
कुंडोदरेश्वराल्लिंगात्प्रतीच्यामसिरोधसि
From the liṅga of Kuṇḍodareśvara, to the west, at the top of the head,
मयूरेशप्रतीच्यां च लिंगं बाणेश्वरं महत् 4.2.53.
And to the west of Mayūreśa, the great liṅga called Bāṇeśvara,
गोकर्णेशं महालिंगमंतर्गेहस्य पश्चिमे
The great liṅga of Gokarṇeśa is within the house, to the west.
गोकर्णेश्वर भक्तस्य पंचत्व समये सति
For the devotee of Gokarṇeśvara, at the time of death,
महिमानं महत्त्वं तु तत्काश्याः पर्यवर्णयत्
He described the greatness and majesty of that Kāśī.
वैष्णव्या मायया विश्वं भ्राम्येतात्र ययाखिलम्
By the Māyā of Viṣṇu’s power, the whole universe is made to wander here.
अपास्य सोदरान्दारान्पुत्रं क्षेत्रं गृहं वसु
Having abandoned brothers, wives, sons, land, house, and wealth,
मरणादपि नो काश्यां भयं यत्र मनागपि
There is not the slightest fear of death in Kāśī.
मरणं मंगलं यत्र विभूतिर्यत्र भूषणम्
Where death is auspicious, and prosperity is an ornament,
निर्वाणरमणी यत्र रंकं वाऽरंकमेव वा
Where liberation is delightful, whether for a pauper or even the poorest,
मृतानां यत्र जंतूनां निर्वाणपदमृच्छताम्
Where, for creatures who have died, the state of liberation is attained,
यत्र काश्यां मृतो जंतुर्ब्रह्मनारायणादिभिः 4.2.53.
Where, in Kāśī, a creature who dies is led by Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and others,
यत्र काश्यां शवत्वेपि जंतुर्नाशुचितां व्रजेत्
Where, in Kāśī, even if a being dies as a corpse, he does not attain impurity,
यस्तु काशीति काशीति द्विस्त्रिर्जपति पुण्यवान्
Whoever, pious, recites 'Kāśī, Kāśī' two or three times,
येन काशी हृदि ध्याता येन काशीह सेविता
By whom Kāśī is meditated upon in the heart, by whom Kāśī is served here,
काशीं यः सेवते जंतुर्निर्विकल्पेन चेतसा
Whoever serves Kāśī with unwavering mind,
स्वयं वस्तुमशक्तोपि वासयेत्तीर्थवासिनम्
Even if one is unable to possess it oneself, one causes the resident of the holy place to dwell there.
काश्यां वसंति ये धीरा आपंचत्व विनिश्चयाः
Those steadfast ones who reside in Kāśī, firmly resolved to attain liberation,
इत्थं विमृश्य बहुशः स्थाणुर्वाराणसीगुणान्
Thus, having reflected many times, Sthāṇu (Śiva) considered the virtues of Vārāṇasī.
तारकत्वं समागच्छ गच्छाति स्वच्छमानस
One attains deliverance, departing with a pure mind.
तिलपर्ण स्धूलकर्ण दृमिचंड प्रभामय
Tilaparṇa, Dhūlakarṇa, Dṛmicaṇḍa, radiant in splendor,
वीरभद्र किराताख्य चतुर्मुख निकुंभक 4.2.53.
Vīrabhadra, known as Kirāta, Four-faced, Nikuṃbhaka.
नाद्रीणां न समुद्राणां न द्रुमाणां महीयसाम् 4.2.53.
Not of mountains, nor of oceans, nor of great trees,
तारकेशं महालिंगं तारकाख्यो गणोत्तमः 4.2.53.
Tārakeśa, the great liṅga, Tāraka, the foremost among the hosts.
अन्येपि ये गणास्तत्र काश्यां लिंगानि चक्रिरे
Other hosts also established liṅgas there in Kāśī.
गणेन पिंगलाख्येन पिंगलाख्येशसंज्ञितम्
By the host named Piṃgala, the liṅga called Piṃgala was consecrated.