अनादिनिधनं देवमव्यक्तं तेजसां निधिम्
The beginningless and endless god, the unmanifest, the repository of radiance,
सूर्योपरागे संप्राप्ते रविकूपे समाहितः
When a solar eclipse occurs, with mind composed at the Sun's well,
दानं चैव यथाशक्त्या जयादित्याग्रतः स्थितः
And giving gifts according to one's ability, standing before Jayaditya,
कुरुक्षेत्रेषु यत्पुण्यं प्रभासे पुष्करेषु च तत्पुण्यं लभते मर्त्यो जयादित्यप्रसादतः ।। 1.2.51.
The merit gained at Kurukshetra, Prabhasa, and Pushkara—that merit a mortal attains by the grace of Jayaditya.
कस्माद्वा कोटितीर्थानां फलमत्रोच्यते मुने
Why, O sage, is the fruit of Kotitirtha declared here?
ब्रह्मलोकात्समानीतः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मा पितामहः
Brahma, the grandsire, was brought directly from Brahmaloka.
ततो मध्याह्नसमये स्नानार्थे भगवान्विधिः
Then, at midday, the blessed Creator went to bathe.
स्वर्गात्त्रिदशलक्षाणि सप्ततिश्च महीतलात्
Seventy thousand from heaven and from the earth as well—
अनेन प्रविभागेन लिंगान्यपि कुरूद्वह
By this arrangement, O best of Kurus, even the lingas—
ततोऽभिषेचनं कृत्वा लिंगान्यभ्यर्च्य पद्मभूः
Then, having performed the consecration and worshipped the lingas, the lotus-born one—
ततो भगवता ह्यत्र मनसा निर्मितं सरः
Then, by the Blessed One, a lake was created here by the mind.
किं कुर्म भगवन्धातरादेशं देहि नः प्रभो
"What shall we do, O Lord? Give us your command, O Master."
एतस्मिन्सरसि स्थेयं तीर्थैः सर्वैरथात्र च
One should remain in this lake, along with all the sacred bathing places, and here as well.
कोटीनामेव तीर्थानां लिंगानां स्नानपूजया 1.2.52.
By bathing and worshipping the liṅgas of even ten million sacred places,
यः श्राद्धं कुरुते चात्र पिंडदानं यथाविधि
Whoever performs śrāddha here, and offers the ancestral cake according to the proper method,
स्नात्वा योऽभ्यर्चयेद्देवं कोटीश्वरमनन्यधीः
Who, after bathing, worships the deity Koṭīśvara with undistracted mind,
त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा
All the sacred bathing places in the three worlds, and likewise the rivers beginning with the Gaṅgā,
एवं दत्त्वा वरं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोकं ययौ प्रभुः
Thus, having granted the boon, Brahmā the Lord went to the world of Brahmā.
अस्य तीरे पुरा पार्थ ब्रह्माद्यैर्देवसत्तमैः
On this bank, O Pārtha, in ancient times, by Brahmā and other foremost gods,
वसिष्ठाद्यैर्मुनिवरैस्तपश्चीर्णं पुरानघ
By eminent sages beginning with Vasiṣṭha, penance was performed here in ancient times, O sinless one.
अत्र तीर्थे पुरा पार्थ अत्रिणा विहितं तपः
At this sacred place, O Pārtha, formerly, Atri performed austerity.
अत्रीश्वराभिसंज्ञं तु महापापहरं परम्
It is known as Atrīśvara, supreme and remover of great sins.
तत्र स्नात्वा च यो मर्त्यः श्राद्धं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः
There, whoever bathes and diligently performs śrāddha, though mortal,
भरद्वाजेन मुनिना कोटितीर्थे सरोवरे 1.2.52.
By the sage Bharadvāja, at the Koṭitīrtha lake,
भरद्वाजेश्वरं लिंगं स्थापितं सुमनोहरम्
The charming liṅga called Bharadvājeśvara was established there.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याद्विधानतः
There, after bathing, a man should perform śrāddha with devotion and according to rule.
ततश्च कोटितीर्थेऽस्मिन्गौतमो भगवानृषिः
Then, at this Koṭitīrtha, the venerable sage Gautama,
तं कामं प्राप्तवान्धीमान्परां मुदमुपागतः
That wise one obtained his desire and attained supreme joy.
अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महालिंगं गौतमेश्वरसंज्ञितम्
In this field stands the great liṅga known as Gautameśvara.
तन्मम ब्रूहि सकलमहल्यासरःकारणम्
Tell me in full, the entire reason for the lake of Ahalyā here.