नान्यत्किंचित्क्वचिद्दृष्टं ब्रह्महत्यामहौषधम्
Nowhere else has any remedy for the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa been seen.
भैरवस्यापिहस्ताग्रादपतद्वैधसं शिरः
From the tip of Bhairava's hand, the head of the sacrificial victim fell.
सीमानमपि संप्राप्य शक्रानंदवनस्य हि
Having reached the boundary of the Indra's pleasure grove,
अन्येषामपि पापानां महापापजुषामपि
Even for others who are sinful, and for those who indulge in great sins,
महापातकतो मुक्तिः काश्यामे व शतक्रतो
Liberation from great transgressions is attained in Kāśī, O Indra.
निर्वाणनगरी काशी काशी सर्वाघसंघहृत् ।। 4.2.81.
Kāśī is the city of liberation; Kāśī removes all clusters of sins.
ब्रह्महत्याभयं यस्य यस्य संसारतो भयम्
For whom there is fear of killing a Brāhmaṇa, and fear from the cycle of existence,
जंतूनां कर्मबीजानां यत्र देहविसर्जने
Where, at the abandonment of the body, the seeds of karma of creatures,
तां काशीं प्राप्य वृत्रारे वृत्रहत्यापनुत्तये
Having reached that Kāśī, O slayer of Vṛtra, for the removal of the sin of killing Vṛtra,
बृहस्पतेरिति वचो निशम्य स सहस्रदृक्
Hearing the words of Bṛhaspati, he of a thousand eyes,
स्नात्वोत्तरवहायां च धर्मेशं परितः स्थितः
Having bathed in the Uttara Vahā, he stood all around Dharmesha.
महारुद्रजपासक्तः सुत्रामाथ त्रिलोचनम्
Absorbed in the recitation of the great Rudra, he then praised the three-eyed one with threads (of hymns).
पुनस्तुष्टाव वेदोक्तै रुद्रसूक्तैरनेकधा
Again he extolled Rudra many times with hymns from the Vedas.
शचीपते प्रसन्नोस्मि वरं वरय सुव्रत
O lord of Śacī, I am pleased; choose a boon, O virtuous one.
श्रुत्वेति देवदेवस्य स प्रेमवचनं हरिः
Having heard these loving words of the god of gods, Hari,
ततस्तत्कृपयानुन्नो धर्मपीठनिषेवणात् 4.2.81.
Then, moved by his compassion, and by service at the seat of Dharma,
तत्रेंद्रः स्नानमात्रेण दिव्यगंधोऽभवत्क्षणात्
There, by bathing alone, Indra instantly became fragrant with divine scent.
तदाश्चर्यमथो दृष्ट्वा मुनयो नारदादयः
Then, seeing this wonder, the sages, beginning with Nārada,
अतर्पयन्पितॄन्दिव्यान्व्यधुः श्राद्धानि श्रद्धया
They satisfied the divine ancestors and performed śrāddha rites with faith.
तदा प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं धर्मांधुरिति विश्रुतम्
From that time onward, that sacred place became renowned as Dharmāṃdhura.
यत्फलं तीर्थराजस्य स्नानेन परिकीर्त्यते
The fruit that is proclaimed to result from bathing at the king of sacred places,
गंगाद्वारे कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगासागरसंगमे
At the gateway of the Ganges, in Kurukshetra, and at the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean,
नर्मदायां सरस्वत्यां गौतम्यां सिंहगे गुरौ
On the Narmada, Sarasvati, Gautami, at Simhaga, and at the Guru,
मानसे पुष्करे चैव द्वारिके सागरे तथा
At Manasa, at Pushkara, at Dvarika, and likewise at the ocean,
कार्तिक्यां सूकरक्षेत्रे चैत्र्यां गौरीमहाह्रदे
During Kartika at the boar’s field, during Chaitra at the great lake of Gauri,
तीर्थद्वयं प्रतीक्षंते सिस्नासून्पितरो नरान् 4.2.81.
Two sacred places await those who desire to bathe, as do their ancestors among men.
पितामहसमीपे वा धर्मेशस्याग्रतोथ वा
Either near the forefathers or at the forefront of Dharmesha,
धर्मकूपे नरः स्नात्वा परितर्प्य पितामहान्
Having bathed in the well of Dharma and fully satisfied the forefathers,
यथा गयायां तृप्ताः स्युः पिंडदाने पितामहाः
Just as the forefathers are satisfied by the offering of rice balls at Gaya,
ते धन्याः पितृभक्तास्ते प्रीणितास्तैः पितामहाः
Those devoted to their ancestors are blessed; their forefathers are pleased by them.