संप्रसाद्य यथायोगं सर्वानुचित चंचुरः 4.2.57.
Having been propitiated as appropriate, he removes all that is improper.
श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं नरः श्रद्धासमन्वितः
Whoever, endowed with faith, hears this sacred chapter—
अगस्त्य उवाच दृष्ट्वा काशीं दृगानंदां तारकारे पुरारिणा
Agastya said: Having seen Kashi, delighting the eyes, by Tarakari, the enemy of the cities—
मृगांकलक्ष्मणोत्कंठं काशी नेत्रातिथीकृता
Kashi, whose longing is marked by the deer-moon, was made a guest by the Lord of the Eye.
अथ सर्वज्ञनाथेन भक्तवत्सलचेतसा
Then, by the Lord who knows all, whose heart is fond of devotees—
यमनेहसमारभ्य मदंराद्रिं विनिर्ययौ
Beginning at the abode of Yama, he set out for the intoxicated mountain.
तं वासरं पुरस्कृत्य जग्राह नियमं दृढम्
Taking that day as auspicious, he undertook a firm vow.
विषमेक्षण पादाब्जं समीक्षिष्ये यदा पुनः
When again shall I behold the lotus feet of the One with the uneven gaze?
कुतश्चिद्धारणायोगादथवा शंभ्वनुग्रहात
Either through some practice of concentration, or by the grace of Śambhu,
तं शंभुरेव जानाति नान्यो जानाति कश्चन
Only Śambhu himself knows that; no one else knows it.
ज्येष्ठशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां सोमवारानुराधयोः
On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Jyeṣṭha, under the constellation Anurādhā on a Monday,
ज्येष्ठस्थानं ततः काश्यां तदाभूदपि पुण्यदम् 4.2.63.
The place of Jyeṣṭha in Kāśī then became auspicious and meritorious.
तल्लिंगदर्शनात्पुंसां पापं जन्मशतार्जितम्
By seeing that liṅga, the sins accumulated over hundreds of births by men
ज्येष्ठवाप्यां नरः स्नात्वा तर्पयित्वा पितामहान्
A man who bathes in the Jyeṣṭha pond and offers oblations to his ancestors,
आविरासीत्स्वयं तत्र ज्येष्ठेश्वर समीपतः
He himself appeared there, near the lord of Jyeṣṭha.
ज्येष्ठे मासि सिताष्टम्यां तत्र कार्यो महोत्सवः
In the month of Jyeṣṭha, on the bright eighth day, a great festival should be held there.
ज्येष्ठां गौरीं नमस्कृत्य ज्येष्ठवापी परिप्लुता
After saluting Jyeṣṭhā Gaurī and immersing in the Jyeṣṭha pond,
निवासं कृतवाञ्शंभुस्तस्मिन्स्थाने यतः स्वयम्
Śambhu himself made his dwelling at that place.
निवासेश्वरलिंगस्य सेवनात्सर्वसंपदः
By serving the liṅga of the lord residing there, all prosperity is attained.
कृत्वा श्राद्धं विधानेन ज्येष्ठस्थाने नरोत्तमः
The best of men, having performed the śrāddha ritual properly at the Jyeṣṭha place,
ज्येष्ठतीर्थे नरः काश्यां दत्त्वा दानानि शक्तितः
A man who gives gifts according to his ability at the Jyeṣṭha holy site in Kāśī,
ज्येष्ठेश्वरो र्च्यः प्रथमं काश्यां श्रेयोर्थिभिर्नरैः 4.2.63.
Jyeṣṭheśvara should first be worshipped in Kāśī by those seeking excellence.
अथ नंदिनमाहूय धूर्जटिः स कृपानिधिः
Then, calling Nandin, Dhūrjaṭi, the ocean of compassion,
तदंतरेस्ति मे भक्तो जैगीषव्यस्तपोधनः
He said: 'Among them is my devotee, Jaigīṣavya, rich in austerity.'
महानियमवान्नंदिस्त्वगस्थिस्नायु शेषितः
Nandin, strict in great discipline, remained with only skin, bones, and sinews.
यदाप्रभृत्यगां काश्या मंदरं सर्वसुंदरम्
From that time onward, Kāśī became Mandara, the most beautiful of all.
गृहाण लीलाकमलमिदं पीयूषपोषणम्
Receive this playful lotus, nourished by nectar.
ततो नंदी समादाय तल्लीलाकमलं विभोः
Then Nandi took up that playful lotus of the Lord.
नंदी दृष्ट्वाथ तं तत्र धारणादृढमानसम्
There, seeing him, Nandi, whose mind was steadfast through concentration—
तपांते वृष्टिसंयोगाच्छालूर इव कोटरे
At the end of his austerities, like a lotus in a hollow after the rain—