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.
तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पापानां जायते क्षयः
By merely seeing it, the destruction of sins arises.
वीरभद्रेश्वरं लिंगं ध्यायेदद्यापि निश्चलः
Even today, one should meditate unwaveringly on the liṅga of Vīrabhadreśvara.
अविमुक्तेश्वरात्पश्चाद्वीरभद्रेश्वरं नरः
After Avimukteśvara, a man should worship Vīrabhadreśvara.
वीरभद्रः स्वयं साक्षाद्वीरमूर्तिधरो मुने
Vīrabhadra himself, O sage, bears the form of a hero.
भद्रया भद्रकाल्या च भार्यया शुभया युतम्
Accompanied by Bhadrā and Bhadrakālī, his auspicious wives,
किरातेन किरातेशं लिंगं काश्यां प्रतिष्ठितम्
By Kirāta, the liṅga called Kirāteśa was established in Kāśī.
चतुर्मुखो गणः श्रीमान्वृद्धकालेश सन्निधौ
The illustrious group of four-faced ones is present in the abode of Vṛddhakāleśa.
भक्ताश्चतुर्मुखेशस्य चतुराननवद्दिवि 4.2.55.१
The devotees of the Lord with four faces, just like in the divine realm, worship Caturānana.
निकुंभेश्वरमालोक्य निकुंभगणपूजितम् कुबेरेश समीपेतु शिवलोके महीयते
Beholding Nikuṃbheśvara, worshipped by the Nikuṃbha hosts, he is honored near Kubera in the world of Śiva.
पंचाक्षेशं महालिंगं महादेवस्य दक्षिणे
The great liṅga of Paṃcākṣeśa stands to the south of Mahādeva.