किंतु पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा रेवया बह्वनेहसम्
However, in former times, after performing severe austerities with Revā, she became free from many faults.
गंगा साम्यं विधे देहि प्रसन्नोसि यदि प्रभो
O Lord, if you are pleased, grant equality with Ganga.
यदि त्र्यक्षसमत्वं तु लभ्यतेऽन्येन केनचित् 4.2.92.
If equality with the three-eyed one can be attained by anyone else,
पुरुषोत्तम तुल्यः स्यात्पुरुषोन्यो यदि क्वचित
If there is ever another person equal to the Supreme Person,
यदि गौरी समा नारी क्वचिदन्या भवेदिह
If there is ever another woman here equal to Gauri,
यदि काशीपुरी तुल्या भवेदस्या क्वचित्पुरी
If there is ever a city anywhere equal to the city of Kashi,
निशम्येति विधेर्वाक्यं नर्मदा सरिदुत्तमा
Hearing these words of the ordinance, Narmada, the foremost of rivers,
सर्वेभ्योपि हि पुण्येभ्यः काश्यां लिंगप्रतिष्ठितेः
For, among all merits, the establishment of the linga in Kashi is supreme.
अथ सा नर्मदा पुण्या विधिपूर्वां प्रतिष्ठितिम्
Then that holy Narmada received the installation according to the ordinance.
ततः शंभुः प्रसन्नोभूऽत्तस्यै नद्यै शुभात्मने
Then Shambhu, being pleased, bestowed it upon that auspicious river.
सरिद्वरा निशम्येति रेवा प्राह महेश्वरम्
Hearing this, the excellent river Revā spoke to Maheshvara.
निर्द्वंद्वा त्वत्पदद्वंद्वे भक्तिरस्तु महेश्वर
O Maheshvara, may there be unwavering devotion at your dual feet.
प्रोवाच च सरिच्छेष्ठे त्वयोक्तं यत्तथास्तु तत् 4.2.92.
And to the best of rivers, he said, 'What you have asked shall be so.'
यावंत्यो दृषदः संति तव रोधसि नर्मदे
As many stones as there are on your banks, O Narmada,
अन्यं च ते वरं दद्या तमप्याकर्णयोत्तमम्
I shall grant you another boon; listen to that supreme one as well.
सद्यः पापहरा गंगा सप्ताहेन कलिंदजा
Ganga removes sins instantly; the daughter of Kalinda does so in seven days.
अपरं च वरं दद्यां नर्मदे दर्शनाघहे
Furthermore, O Narmada, I grant you another boon: whoever beholds you is freed from sin.
यत्तल्लिंगं महापुण्यं मुक्तिं दास्यति शाश्वतीम
That most sacred liṅga will bestow eternal liberation.
प्रणमिष्यंति यत्नेन महाश्रेयोभिवृद्धये
Those who bow to it with devotion will attain the highest increase of merit.
परं हि नर्मदेशस्य महिमा कोपि चाद्भुतः
Indeed, the greatness of Narmada is supreme and truly wondrous.
नर्मदापि प्रहृष्टासीत्पावित्र्यं प्राप्य चाद्भुतम्
Narmada too became delighted, having attained extraordinary purity.
वाक्यं मृकंडजमुनेस्तेपि श्रुत्वा मुनीश्वराः
Hearing the words of Mṛkaṇḍa, the best of sages,
पापकंचुकमुत्सृज्य प्राप्स्यति ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ।। 4.2.92.
Casting off the cloak of sin, one will attain supreme knowledge.
स्कंद उवाच । । अमृतेशमुखादीनि यन्नामाप्यमृतप्रदम्
Skanda said: Even the names beginning with Amṛteśa grant immortality.
पुरा सनारु नामासीन्मुनिरत्र गृहाश्रमी
Long ago, there was a sage here named Sanāru, a householder.
लिंगपूजारतो नित्यं नित्यं तीर्थाप्रतिग्रही
He was always devoted to worshipping the liṅga and constantly received holy waters.
स कदाचिद्गतोरण्यं तत्र दष्टः पृदाकुना
Once, while he was in the forest, he was bitten there by a venomous snake.
सनारुणा समुच्छ्वस्य नीतः स उपजंघनिः
Sanāru, gasping for breath, was carried away by Upajaṃghani.
तत्रासीच्छ्रीफलाकारं लिंगमेकं सुगुप्तवत्
There, a liṅga shaped like a coconut was well concealed.
सर्पदष्टस्य संस्कारः कथं भवति चेति वै
What is the proper rite for one bitten by a snake?