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.
रक्षंति सततं क्षेत्रं यत्र पाशासिपाणयः
They constantly protect the field, where those holding nooses and swords reside.
प्राग्द्वारमट्टहासश्च गणकोटिपरीवृतः 4.2.74.
At the eastern gate, Maṭṭahāsa stands, surrounded by countless Gaṇas.
तथैव भूतधात्रीशः क्षेत्रदक्षिणरक्षकः
Likewise, Bhūtadhātrīśa is the protector of the southern side of the field.
उदग्द्वारं तथा रक्षेद्घंटाकर्णो महागणः
At the northern gate, Ghaṃṭākarṇa, the great Gaṇa, protects as well.
रक्षः काष्ठां शंकुकर्णो दृमिचंडो मरुद्दिशम्
Śaṃkukarṇa and Dṛmicaṃḍa guard the western boundary, facing the wind direction.
कालाक्षोरण भद्रस्तु कौलेयः कालकंपनः
Kālākṣoraṇa, the auspicious one, Kauleya, and Kālakaṃpana.
वीरभद्रो नभश्चैव कर्दमालिप्तविग्रहः
Vīrabhadra and Nabha, with bodies smeared with mud.
विशालाक्षो महाभीमः कुंडोदरमहोदरौ
Viśālākṣa, the very formidable one, and Kuṃḍodara and Mahodara.
नंदिसेनश्च पंचालः खरपादकरंटकः
Nandisena, Pancala, Kharapada, and Karantaka—
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महापुण्ये लिंगमोंकारसंज्ञकम्
In that most sacred field is a linga known as Omkara.
कपिलश्चैव सावर्णिः श्रीकंठः पिगलोंशुमान्
Kapila, Savarni, Shrikantha, Pigala, and Aṃshuman—
एकदा तस्य लिंगस्य कृत्वा पंचापिपूजनम् 4.2.74.
Once, they performed the worship of the linga with five offerings.
अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तत्र यद्वृत्तमद्भुतम्
I will tell you something else, O sage, a marvelous event that happened there.
एका भेकी मुने तत्र चरंती लिंग सन्निधौ
There was a single frog, O sage, moving about near the linga.
सा तत्र मृत्युं न प्राप शिवनिर्माल्यभक्षणात्
She did not meet death there because she ate the remnants of Shiva’s offerings.
वरं विषमपिप्राश्यं शिवस्वं नैव भक्षयेत्
It is better to drink poison than to consume what belongs to Shiva.
शिवस्य परिपुष्टांगाः स्पर्शनीया न साधुभिः
Those who are adorned with Shiva’s offerings are not to be touched by the virtuous.
कश्चित्काकः समालोक्य मंडूकीं तामितस्ततः
A certain crow, seeing that frog, moved toward her from here and there.
306a वर्षाभ्वी तेन सा क्षिप्ता काकेन क्षेत्रबाह्यतः
By that crow she was seized and thrown outside the sacred field.
प्रदक्षिणीकरणतो लिंगस्यस्पर्शनादपि
Because of circumambulating the linga and even touching it,