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.
उक्तं वाराणसीक्षेत्रं क्रोशपंचकपावनम् 1.3.2.2.
The sacred region of Varanasi, purified by five krośas, has been described.
कपालमोचनं यत्र यत्रास्ते कालभैरवः
Wherever Kapālamocana is found, there too is Kālabhairava.
गयाप्रयागावपि ते कथितौ सर्वसिद्धिदौ
Gaya and Prayaga have also been mentioned; both grant all attainments.
आकर्णितं च केदारं यस्मिन्महिषरूपधृक्
Kedara has been heard of, where the Lord takes the form of a buffalo.
सर्वसिद्धिकरं पुंसां क्षेत्रं बदरिकाश्रमम्
Badarikāśrama is the field that grants all attainments to men.
श्रुतं हि नैमिषं क्षेत्रं त्वया यत्र महेश्वरः
You have indeed heard of the Naimisha region, where the great Lord resides.
अमरेशमिति स्थानं प्रोक्तं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
The place called Amaresha is said to fulfill all desires.
पुष्कराख्यं महास्थानं श्रुतं ते कथितं मया
The great place known as Pushkara has been described to you by me.
आषाढीनाम ते स्थानं पावनं कथितं मया
I have told you about the pure place of the Ashadha goddesses.
दंडिमुंडी समाख्यं च स्थानं ते कथितं मया
I have described to you the place called Dandimundi.