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.
कृष्णवेणीतटे केचित्तुंगभद्रांतिके परे 1.3.2.2.
A few are on the banks of the Krishna and Venna rivers, others near the Tungabhadra.
कावेरीतीर इतरे केचिद्वेगवतीतटे
Some are on the banks of the Kaveri, others on the banks of the Vegavati.
केचिदैरावतीतीरे त्वितरे यातुकांक्षिके
Some are on the banks of the Airavati, others near the Yatukankshi.
कन्यातटेषु कतिचित्कतिचित्कुमारीतीरे परे च तमसावरुणांतिकेन्ये
A few are on the banks of the Kanya, some on the banks of the Kumari, and others near the Tamasā and Varuna.
विपाशाभ्याश इतरे शतद्रुतितटे परे
Some are near the Vipāśā, others on the banks of the Śatadru.
केचिद्बिंदुसरोभ्यर्णे परे पंपासरस्तटे
Some are near the Bindusara lake, others on the banks of the Pampā lake.
अपरे मालिनीतीरे परे गंधवतीतटे
Some are on the banks of the Mālinī, others on the banks of the Gandhavati.
इंद्रद्युम्नसरस्यन्य एके तु मणिकर्णिके पातालगंगासविधे शरावत्यंतिके परे
Some are at the Indradyumna lake, others at Maṇikarṇikā; some near the subterranean Ganga, others near the Śarāvatī.
लोहित्याकूलयोः केचित्कतिचित्कालमातटे
A few are at the confluence of the Lohitya, some on the banks of the Kālamā.
सुरलोपांतिके केचित्पयोष्णीतीरयोः परे
Some are near Suralopa, others on the banks of the Payoshnī.