तव हस्ते मम वधः श्रेयानेव पुरांतक
O Destroyer of Cities, it is better for me to die by your hand.
किंचिद्विज्ञप्तुमिच्छामि अवधेहि ममेरितम्
I wish to say something; please listen to my words.
त्वमेको जगतां वंद्यो विश्वस्योपरि संस्थितः
You alone are worthy of worship by all the worlds, established above the universe.
धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि त्वत्त्रिशूलाग्रसंस्थितः
I am blessed, I am favored, standing at the tip of your trident.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदेवः कृपानिधिः
Hearing these words, the god of gods, the treasure-house of compassion,
स्वानुकूल वरं ब्रूहि ददामि सुमतेऽसुर
Speak out a boon that pleases you, O wise Asura, I shall grant it.
इत्याकर्ण्य स दैत्येंद्रः प्रत्युवाच महेश्वरम् गजासुर उवाच यदि प्रसन्नो दिग्वासस्तदा नित्यं वसान मे ।। 4.2.68.
Hearing this, the lord of Daityas replied to Maheśvara: Gajāsura said: If you are pleased, O sky-clad one, then always dwell in me.
इमां कृत्तिं विरूपाक्ष त्वत्त्रिशूलाग्निपाविताम्
O Virūpākṣa, let this hide of mine, purified by the fire of your trident,
इष्टगंधिः सदैवास्तु सदैवास्त्वतिकोमला
Always possess a pleasing fragrance and ever remain exceedingly soft.
महातपोऽनलज्वालाः प्राप्यापि सुचिरं विभो
Even after enduring the blazing fire of your great austerity for a long time, O Lord,
यदि पुण्यवती नैषा ममकृत्तिर्दिगंबर
If this hide of mine is not meritorious, O sky-clad one,
अन्यं च मे वरं देहि यदि तुष्टोसि शंकर
And if you are pleased, O Śaṅkara, grant me another boon as well.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तथेत्युक्त्वा च शंकरः
Hearing his words, Śaṅkara replied, 'So be it.'
शृणु पुण्यनिधे दैत्य वरमन्यं सुदुर्लभम्
Listen, O treasure of merit, to another boon, most difficult to obtain, O Daitya.
इदं पुण्यशरीरं ते क्षेत्रेस्मिन्मुक्तिसाधने
This meritorious body of yours, in this field that leads to liberation—
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं नाम महापातकनाशनम्
is called Krittivaseshvara, the destroyer of great sins.
यावंति संति लिंगानि वाराणस्यां महांत्यपि 4.2.68.
As many great liṅgas as there are in Varanasi—
मानवानां हितायात्र स्थास्येहं सपरिग्रहः कृतकृत्यो भवेन्मर्त्यः संसारं न विशेत्पुनः
For the welfare of people, I shall remain here with my attendants; a mortal who has fulfilled his duties will not enter saṃsāra again.
रुद्राः पाशुपताः सिद्धा ऋषयस्तत्त्वचिंतकाः
Rudras, Pashupatas, Siddhas, and sages who contemplate the truth—
अविमुक्ते स्थिता ये तु मम भक्ता मुमुक्षवः
those devotees of mine who seek liberation and reside in Avimukta—
कृत्तिवासेश्वरे लिंगे स्थास्येहं तदनुग्रहे
I shall remain in the liṅga of Krittivaseshvara, bestowing grace there.
त्रिकालमागमिष्यंति कृत्तिवासे न संशयः
They will come to Krittivaseshvara in all three times—there is no doubt.
सदाचारविनिर्मुक्ताः सत्यशौचपराङ्मुखाः
Freed from improper conduct, turning away from falsehood and impurity—
शूद्रान्नसेविनो विप्रा जिह्वाला अतिलालसाः
Brahmins who eat food from Shudras, whose tongues are excessively greedy—
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं प्राप्य सर्वपापविवर्जिताः
Upon reaching Krittivaseshvara, they become free from all sins.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं सेव्यं काश्यां ततो नरैः
The liṅga of Krittivaseshvara in Kashi should be worshipped by people.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरे लिंगे लभ्यस्त्वेकेन जन्मना नश्येत्सद्यो विनश्येत कृत्तिवासे श्वरेक्षणात् ।।4.2.68.
The liṅga of Krittivaseshvara can be attained in a single birth; sins are destroyed instantly, they perish at the very sight of Krittivaseshvara.
कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं येर्चयिष्यंति मानवाः
Those people who will worship the liṅga of Krittivaseshvara—
अविमुक्तेऽत्र वस्तव्यं जप्तव्यं शतरुद्रियम्
In Avimukta, one should reside here and recite the Shatarudriya.
सप्तकोटिमहारुद्रैः सुजप्तैर्यत्फलं भवेत्
The fruit that arises from well-recited Shatarudriya by seventy million great Rudras—