दृष्ट्वा हृष्टमना आसीच्चेतः स्थैर्यमवाप ह
Seeing it, his mind became joyful and he attained steadiness of heart.
304b विभूतिभूषिततनून्कृतलिंगसमर्चनान् 4.2.74.
He saw bodies adorned with sacred ash, engaged in the worship of the liṅga.
स्वस्थोपविष्टान्स्वपुरोरग्रतोऽचलमानसान्
Seated calmly in front of their own city, their minds unwavering.
प्रबद्धहस्तयुगलः प्रणमतरकंधरः
With hands joined together and head bowed, he offered obeisance.
वार्धकेन समाक्रांतस्तपसा कृशविग्रहः
Overcome by old age, his body emaciated by austerity.
पप्रच्छ दमनं चेति कस्त्वं कस्मादिहागतः
He asked, 'O subduer, who are you? For what reason have you come here?'
भगोः पाशुपताचार्य सर्वज्ञाराधनप्रिय
I am the teacher of Pāśupata, devoted to the worship of the all-knowing Lord Bhaga.
कथयामि यथार्थं ते निजचेतोविचेष्टितम्
I will tell you truthfully what my own mind has undertaken.
संसारासारतां ज्ञात्वा वानप्रस्थमशिश्रियम्
Knowing the worthlessness of saṃsāra, I have taken up the life of a forest-dweller.
स्नातं बहुषु तीर्थेषु मंत्रा जप्तास्तु कोटिशः
I have bathed in many sacred places, and mantras have been recited by me in the millions.
शुश्रूषिताश्च गुरवो बहवो बह्वनेहसम्
Many teachers, free from much fault, have been served by me.
शिखराणि गिरींद्राणां मया चाध्युषितान्यहो 4.2.74.
Ah, I have also dwelt upon the peaks of the lordly mountains.
रसायनानि बहुशः सेवितानि मया पुनः
I have repeatedly made use of many elixirs.
मया प्रविष्टा बहुशः कृतांतवदनोपमाः
I have often entered places resembling the face of Death.
परं किंचित्क्वचिन्नैक्षि सिद्ध्यंकुरमपि प्रभो
Yet, O Lord, nowhere did I see even the slightest sprout of accomplishment.
मनसः स्थैर्यमापन्नमिव संप्राप्तसिद्धिना
It is as if steadfastness of mind has arisen through attainment.
तेनैव महती सिद्धिर्भवित्री मम नान्यथा
Only through this will great accomplishment come to me, not otherwise.
अनेनैव शरीरेण पार्थिवेन प्रथीयसी
With this very body, composed of earth and most powerful,
प्रत्यक्षदृष्टं प्रोवाच महदाश्चर्यमुत्तमम् मुमुक्षूणां धृतवतां महापाशुपतं व्रतम्
He spoke of a supreme and wondrous marvel, witnessed directly, the great Pāśupata vow for those desiring liberation and possessing steadfastness.
शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा तदा ते कथयाम्यहम्
Listen attentively; now I shall tell you.
अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे सर्वसिद्धिप्रदे सताम्
In Avimukta, the great field, bestowing all accomplishments upon the virtuous,
305a समाश्रितानां जंतूनां सर्वेषां सर्वकर्मणाम् 4.2.74.
For all creatures who have taken refuge there, for all their actions,
कर्मभूरुह दावाग्नौ संसाराब्ध्यौर्वशोचिपि
In the wildfire of karma, in the burning pain of the ocean of worldly existence,
दीर्घनिद्रा प्रसुप्तानां परमोद्बोधदायिनि
For those long asleep in deep slumber, it grants the highest awakening.
अनेकजन्मजनित महापापाद्रिवज्रिणि
It shatters the mountain of great sins born from countless births.
विश्वेशितुः परेधाम्नि सीम्नि स्वर्गापवर्गयोः
At the boundary of heaven and liberation, in the supreme realm of the Lord of all,
एवंविधे महाक्षेत्रे सर्वदुःखौघहारिणि
In such a great field, which removes the mass of all suffering,
यत्र कालभयं नास्ति यत्र नास्त्येनसो भयम्
Where there is no fear of time or death, where there is no fear of sin,
तीर्थानि यानि लोकेस्मिञ्जंतूनामघहान्यहो
The holy places in this world, O wonder, destroy the sins of creatures.
अपि काश्यां वसेद्यस्तु सर्वाशी सर्वविक्रयी
Even one who dwells in Kāśī, possessing all desires and all possessions,