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—
माघ कृष्णचतुर्दश्यामुपोष्य निशि जागृयात्
On the fourteenth day of the dark half of Magha, one should fast and remain awake at night.
शुक्लायां पंचदश्यां यश्चैत्र्यां कर्ता महोत्सवम्
Whoever performs the great festival on the fifteenth day of the bright half in Chaitra—
कथयित्वेति देवेशस्तत्कृत्तिं परिगृह्य च
Having thus spoken, the Lord of the gods accepted that act.
महामहोत्सवो जातस्तस्मिन्नहनि कुंभज
On that day, O son of the pot, a great and splendid festival was held.
यत्रच्छत्रीकृतो दैत्यः शूलमारोप्य भूतले
There, the demon was subdued, impaled upon a spear on the ground.
तस्मिन्कुंडे नरः स्नात्वा कृत्वा च पितृतर्पणम्
Whoever bathes in that pool and offers oblations to the ancestors,
स्कंद उवाच काका हंसत्वमापन्नास्तत्तीर्थस्य प्रभावतः ।। 4.2.68.
Skanda said: By the power of that holy place, crows attained the state of swans.
एकदा कृत्तिवासे तु चैत्र्यां यात्राऽभवत्पुरा
Once, at Krittivasa, in the month of Chaitra, there was a pilgrimage.
बहुदेवलकैर्विप्र तं दृष्ट्वा पक्षिणो मिलन्
O Brahmin, seeing that, many birds gathered there with the devotees.
बलिपुष्टैरपुष्टांगा रटतः करटाः कटु
The crows, with strong and weak bodies, cawed harshly and loudly.