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,
रागबीजसमुद्भूतः संसारविटपो महान्
The great tree of worldly existence arises from the seed of passion.
सर्वेषामूषराणां तु काशी परम ऊषरः 4.2.74.
Among all barren lands, Kāśī is the supreme barren land.
स्मरिष्यंतीह ये काशीमवश्यं तेपि साधवः
Those who remember Kāśī here, they too are certainly virtuous.
विभूतिः सर्वलोकानां सत्यादीनां सुभंगुरा
The glory of all worlds, of truth and the like, is exceedingly fragile.
कृमिकीटपतंगानामविमुक्ते तनुत्यजाम्
Even for worms, insects, and flying creatures who die in Avimukta.
वाराणसी यदा प्राप्ता कदाचित्कालपर्ययात्
Whenever Vārāṇasī is attained, at any time in the course of life.
पूर्वतो मणिकर्णीशो ब्रह्मेशो दक्षिणे स्थितः
To the east stands Maṇikarṇīśa, and to the south stands Brahmeśa.
305b इत्येतदुत्तमं क्षेत्रमविमुक्ते महाफलम्
Thus, this excellent field in Avimukta yields great fruit.
क्षेत्रं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य राजसूयफलं लभेत्
By circumambulating the field, one obtains the fruit of a Rājasūya sacrifice.
अविमुक्त समं क्षेत्रमपि ब्रह्मांडगोलके
The field of Avimukta is equal, even within the cosmic sphere.