नंदीश्वरस्य तेनैव वपुषा शिवपूजनात् १२.
By that very form of Nandīśvara, through the worship of Śiva—
श्वेतस्य च महीपस्य श्रीकंठं च नमस्यतः १२.
And by the king Śveta, bowing to Śrīkaṇṭha—
यदिच्छया विश्वमिदं जायते व्यवतिष्ठते १२.
By his will, this entire universe is born and sustained.
एतद्रहस्यमिदमेव नृणां प्रधानं कर्तव्यमत्र शिवपूजनमेव भूप १२.
This, indeed, is the secret; for people, the foremost duty here is truly the worship of Śiva, O king.
इति तस्य मुनींद्रस्य भूपतिः शुश्रुवान्वचः १३.
Thus the king listened to the words of that foremost sage.
लिंगमाराधयिष्येऽद्य सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं नृणाम् १३.
Today I shall worship the liṅga, which grants all accomplishments to people.
तद्भूपतिवचः श्रुत्वा बको गृध्रोऽथ कच्छपः १३.
Hearing the king’s words, Baka, the vulture, and the tortoise—
स च सर्वसुहृद्विप्रस्तथेत्येवाह तांस्तदा १३.
And that best of friends, the brāhmaṇa, also said to her, 'So be it,' at that time.
शिवदीक्षाविधानेन लिंगपूजां समादिशत् तीर्थादप्यधिकं स्थाने सतां साधुसमागमः॥ १३.
By the rite of Śiva-initiation, he instructed the worship of the liṅga; the company of the virtuous is superior even to a holy place.
पचेलिमफलः सद्यो दुरंतकलुपापहः १३.
Its fruit is immediate, removing even terrible and difficult sins.
य एकांततयात्यंतमंतर्गततमोपहः १३.
He who is wholly devoted, utterly removes the darkness within.
सर्वे वराः सुधाकाराः शर्करामधुषड्रसाः १३.
All the best offerings—like nectar, sugar, honey, and six kinds of sweet juices—
आरेभिरे क्रियायोगं मार्कंडनृपपूर्वकाः तीर्थयात्रानुषंगेन लोमशालोकनोत्सुकः॥ १३.
Led by Mārkaṇḍa and the king, they began the ritual practice, eager to see Lomaśa, in the course of their pilgrimage.
मुख्या पुरुषयात्रा हि तीर्थयात्रानुषंगतः १३.
The chief journey of a person is indeed that which is accompanied by pilgrimage.
कृतार्हणातिथ्यविधिं विश्रांतं मां च फाल्गुन १३.
Having performed the proper rites of hospitality, I, too, rested, O Phālguna.
शापभ्रष्टा वयं ब्रह्मंश्चत्वारोऽपि स्वकर्मणा १३.
We four, O brāhmaṇa, have fallen from grace by a curse, each by our own actions.
इयं हि निष्फला भूमिः शपलं भारतं मुने॥ १३.
This land is indeed fruitless; O sage, Bhārata is fickle.
तत्रापि क्वचिदेकत्र सर्वतीर्थफलं वद १३.
Even there, in some one place, tell me where the fruit of all holy places is found.
संवर्तं परिपृच्छध्वं स वो वक्ष्यति तत्त्वतः १३.
Ask Saṃvarta; he will tell you the truth.
कुत्रासौ विद्यते योगी नाज्ञासिष्म वयं च तम् १३.
Where is that yogi? We did not know him.
यदि जानासि तं ब्रूहि सुहृत्संगो न निष्फलः १३.
If you know him, tell us; the company of friends is not fruitless.
वाराणस्यामसावास्ते संवर्तो गुप्तलिंगभृत् १३.
Saṃvarta dwells in Vārāṇasī, bearing a hidden appearance.
करपात्रकृताहारः सर्वथा निष्परिग्रहः १३.
He takes food in a hand-bowl and is entirely without possessions.
भुक्त्वा निर्याति सायाह्ने वनं न ज्ञायते जनैः १३.
After eating, he goes out to the forest in the evening, unnoticed by people.
वक्ष्यामि लक्षणं तस्य ज्ञास्यथ तं मुनिम् १३.
I will describe his marks; you will recognize that sage.
अविज्ञातं स्थापनीयं स्थेयं तदविदूरतः १३.
He should be approached without being recognized, and you should remain not far from him.
स संवर्तो न चाक्रामत्येष शल्यमसंशयम् १३.
That Saṃvarta does not step on thorns, without doubt.
यदि पृच्छति केनाहमाख्यात इति मां ततः १३.
If someone asks who told me, say it was me.
तच्छ्रुत्वा ते तथा चक्रुः सर्वेपि वचनं मम १३.
Hearing this, they all did exactly as I said.
शवं दृष्ट्वा च तैर्न्यस्तं संवर्तो वै न्यवर्तत १३.
When Saṃvarta saw the corpse placed by them, he turned back.