एतस्य वैभवं सर्वं न मया न च शार्ङ्गिणा
All this glory of his is not fully known by me, nor by the wielder of Śārṅga.
देवाश्च हरिमुख्यास्ते कल्पकाद्याः सुरद्रुमाः 1.3.1.13.
The gods, with Hari at their head, and the wish-fulfilling trees from the beginning of the kalpa—
न तस्य कलिदोषः स्यान्नाधिव्याधिविजृंभणा
For him, there is no fault of Kali, nor the outbreak of afflictions or diseases.
इत्येतत्कथितं सर्वं तव शंभुपदाश्रयम्
Thus, all this has been told to you, which is the refuge of Śambhu’s feet.
श्रुतिपुटयुगलात्पिबन्मनोज्ञां सनकमुनिस्तपसां फलं स लेभे
Drinking the delightful fruit of austerities from the twin cups of the Vedas, the sage Sanaka obtained it.
अथारुणाचलमाहात्म्योत्तरार्धम् वसंतो नैमिषारण्ये मुनयः सूतमब्रुवन् मुनय ऊचुः स्थानानामुत्तमं शैवं यत्स्थलं तद्वदस्व नः
Now, in the second half of the greatness of Aruṇācala, while residing in Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages spoke to Sūta: 'O Sūta, tell us which is the foremost Śaiva place among all the holy sites.'
सूत उवाच यूयं शृणुत यत्पूर्वं नंदीश्वरमुखाच्छ्रुतम्
Sūta said: 'Listen, all of you, to what was formerly heard from the mouth of Nandīśvara.'
नंदीश्वर त्वया प्रोक्तो महिमा माध्यमेश्वरः
Nandīśvara, you have spoken of the greatness of Mādhyeśvara.
तथापि वद मे भूयो देवदेव दयानिधे
Yet, O Lord of gods, ocean of compassion, tell me again.
त्वयाप्यविदितं किंचिन्नास्त्यत्र भुवनत्रये
There is nothing in these three worlds that is unknown to you.
स्वर्गापवर्गयोः पुंसां भूमिरेव विशिष्यते
Among heaven and liberation, for people, the earth is truly superior.
फलं च त्रिविधं पुंसां त्वयैव कथितं पुरा
You have already described the threefold fruit for people.
पुण्यक्षयेण क्षीयेत प्रायः प्राथमिकं द्वयम्
When merit is exhausted, generally the first two are diminished.
तत्सिद्धिस्तु त्वया प्रोक्ता विशुद्धज्ञानगोचरा
But that attainment, as you have said, is accessible only through pure knowledge.
तज्ज्ञानं कुत्र वा क्षेत्रे शास्त्रादिपठनं विना 1.3.2.1.
Where, in what place, does such knowledge arise, without study of scripture and the like?
ज्ञानयोगक्रियाचर्यास्वशेषाणां शरीरिणाम्
Among embodied beings, the rest depend on the practice of knowledge, yoga, and action.
यस्य स्थानस्य माहात्म्यादल्पैरपि शरीरिणः
By the greatness of that place, even with little effort, embodied beings—
भस्मरुद्राक्षवहनादीश्वरस्मरणात्सकृत्
By wearing ash and rudrākṣa, or by remembering the Lord even once—
अबुद्धिपूर्वकेणापि यत्र वासेन देहिनाम्
Even by residing there unintentionally, for embodied beings—
जातानां वर्णसांकर्य्ये तैरश्ची योनिमीयुषाम्
For those born in mixed castes, or who have entered animal wombs—
इतीरयित्वा स मृकंडुनंदनः समं मुनींद्रैरपरैर्महात्मभिः
Thus, having spoken, the son of Mṛkaṇḍu, together with other great sages,
नंदिकेश्वर उवाच स्थानं त्वया मुने पृष्टमस्ति माहेश्वराग्रणि
Nandikeśvara said: O sage, you have asked about the place, foremost among the devotees of Maheśvara.
प्रकल्पितं हि देवेन तत्तत्कर्मानुगुण्यतः
Indeed, it was established by the god, according to the nature of each deed.
त्वया शुश्रुषितं तेषां हिताय महते ह्यलम्
You have served them well, for their great benefit.
स्वल्पैर्हि कर्मभिर्ज्ञानैरपि प्राप्ता पुनःपुनः
With few actions, and even with knowledge, they are attained again and again.
कथं नु विरतो देही गर्भमोकसमागमात्
How indeed does one who is detached avoid union with the womb?
प्रदेशाः कथिताः पूर्वं प्रसंगवशतो मया
The regions were described earlier by me, as the occasion arose.
केचित्तीरेषु गंगायाः केचित्सारस्वते तटे
Some are on the banks of the Gaṅgā, some on the shore of the Sarasvatī.
अपरे नर्मदातीरे परे गोदावरीतटे
Some are on the banks of the Narmada, others on the banks of the Godavari.
समुद्रपार्श्वेष्वितरं द्वीपेष्वन्ये सरस्वताम्
Some are beside the ocean, others on islands, and some near the Sarasvati.