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.
ते हन्यमाना न्यपतंस्तस्मिन्कुंडे नभोंगणात्
Struck down, they fell from the sky into that pool.
आश्चर्यवंतस्तत्रत्या यात्रायां मिलिता जनाः
The people assembled for the pilgrimage there were filled with wonder.
अस्मासु वीक्षमाणेषु काकाः कुंडेत्र ये पतन्
As we watched, the crows that fell into the pool—
हंसतीर्थं तदारभ्य कृत्तिवास समीपतः
From that time, near Krittivasa, it became known as Hamsa-tirtha, the Swan's Ford.
अतीव मलिनात्मानो महामलिन कर्मभिः
Those of exceedingly impure nature, with greatly impure deeds,
काश्यां सदैव वस्तव्यं स्नातव्यं हंसतीर्थके
One should always dwell in Kashi and bathe at Hamsa-tirtha.
काश्यां लिंगान्यनेकानि मुने संति पदेपदे 4.2.68.
O sage, in Kashi there are countless lingas at every step.
कृत्तिवासं समाराध्य भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा
By worshipping Krittivasa with a mind endowed with devotion,
जपो दानं तपो होमस्तर्पणं देवतार्चनम्
Recitation, giving, austerity, sacrifice, offerings to ancestors, and worship of the gods—
तीर्थं त्वनादिसंसिद्धमेतत्कलशसंभव
This holy place, O son of the pot, has been perfect since the beginning.
एतानि सिद्धलिंगानिच्छन्नानि स्युर्युगेयुगे
These marks of perfection remain concealed in every age.
हंसतीर्थस्य परितो लिंगानामयुतं मुने
Around the Hamsa Tirtha, O sage, there are ten thousand lingas.
एकैकं सिद्धिदं नृणामविमुक्तनिवासिनाम्
Each one grants success to the people dwelling in Avimukta.
लोमशेशं महालिंगं लोमशेन प्रतिष्ठितम्
The great linga called Lomasasha was established by Lomasha.
मालतीशं शुभं लिंगं कृत्तिवासोत्तरे महत्
The auspicious linga named Malatisha, great and to the north of Krittivasa.
अंतकेश्वर संज्ञं च लिंगं तद्रुद्रदिक्स्थितम्
There is also the linga called Amtakeshvara, situated in the Rudra direction.
जनकेशं महालिंगं तत्पार्श्वे ज्ञानदं परम् 4.2.68.
Beside it is the great linga Janakesha, supreme bestower of knowledge.
तदुत्तरे महामूर्तिरसितांगोस्ति भैरवः
To the north of that is the great form, Bhairava with dark limbs.
शुष्कोदरी च तत्रास्ति देवी विकटलोचना
There too is Shushkodari, the goddess with fierce eyes.
अग्निजिह्वोस्ति वेतालस्तस्या देव्यास्तु नैर्ऋते
There is Vetala named Agnijihva, belonging to that goddess in the southwest.