गुहस्ततो वचः प्राह धर्मदेवसमागमे
Then Guha spoke these words in the assembly of Dharmadeva:
ब्रवीतु कोऽपि सर्वेषां तीर्थानां तेषु वर्तताम् 1.2.58.
Let someone among all these sacred fords declare which one prevails among them.
तिष्ठत्वात्मगुणो यच्च तीर्थराजेन वर्णितः
And the self-praise described by the king of sacred fords should remain.
अहो न युक्तं पालानां यदि तेऽप्यविमृश्य च
Alas, it is not proper for the guardians if they too act without reflection.
एवमुक्ते गुहेनाथ धर्मो वचनमब्रवीत्
When Guha had spoken thus, Dharma then replied with these words:
मुख्यत्वं सर्वतीर्थानामर्घं चापि पितामहात् परोक्षेपि स्वप्रशंसा ब्रह्माणमपि चालयेत्
The supremacy among all sacred fords and the inestimable worth from the Grandfather— even indirect self-praise can unsettle even Brahma.
स्वप्रशंसां प्रकुर्वाणः पराक्षेपसमन्विताम् यानि पूर्वं प्रमाणानि कृतानीशेन धीमता
He who makes self-praise, accompanied by disparagement of others, should uphold the precedents formerly established by the wise Lord.
तानि सम्पालनीयानि तानि कोऽति क्रमेद्बुधः
Those precedents must be maintained; who among the wise would transgress them?
पालयामास एतच्च त्वं पालयितुमर्हसि
This too was upheld; you ought to uphold it as well.
तदस्माभिरिदं युक्तं शासनं दिश्यतां परम्
Therefore, it is proper for us to issue this command as the highest directive.
अहं प्रस्तावमन्वीक्ष्य वाक्यमेतदुदैरयम्
Having considered the matter, I have spoken this statement.
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवैर्नित्यं पूजितायाघनाशिने 1.2.58.
To her who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, the destroyer of sin.
तदस्माकं कुतो भावो मा विश्वं नाशय प्रभो
Therefore, how could we harbor such a feeling? O Lord, do not destroy the universe.
शिववन्माननीयो हि यतः साक्षाच्छिवात्मजः
He is to be honored like Shiva himself, for he is truly the son of Shiva.
युवयोरैक्यभावेन सुखं जीवेदिदं जगत्
By the unity between you two, this world lives in happiness.
अनुग्रहश्च क्रियतां तीर्थराजस्य मानद
Let favor also be shown to Tīrtharāja, O bestower of honor.
एवमुच्चरमाणं मां प्रशस्याहापि पद्मभूः
As I was speaking thus, the Lotus-born praised me and said:
सम्मानय गुहं चापि गुहः स्वामी यतो हि नः
Honor Guha also, for Guha is indeed our Lord.
नमो गुहाय सिद्धाय किंकरायस्य ते वयम्
Salutations to Guha, the accomplished one; we are your servants.
स्तंभादेतन्महातीर्थमप्रसिद्धं भविष्यति
From this pillar, this great tīrtha will become renowned.
स्तम्भतीर्थमिति ख्यातं सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम्
It will be known as Stambhatīrtha, bestowing the fruit of all tīrthas.
यथोक्तं च फलं तस्य स्फुटं सर्वं भविष्यति 1.2.58.
And the result described for it will manifest fully and clearly.
महीसागरयात्रायां भवेत्तच्चावधारय
Know that this will occur during the journey to the meeting of earth and ocean.
अष्टाभिश्च प्रयागस्य तत्फलं प्रभविष्यति
Its fruit will be equal to that of eight Prayāgas.
अर्बुदस्य च यत्षड्भिस्तत्फलं च भविष्यति
And whatever is the fruit of six Arbudas, that too will be obtained.
कूपोदर्याश्चतुर्भिश्च तत्फलं प्रभविष्यति
And by four Kūpodarīs, that fruit will also be gained.
तत्फलं स्तंभतीर्थे वै शनिदर्शे भविष्यति
That fruit will be obtained at Stambhatīrtha during the sighting of Saturn.
ब्रह्मापि स्तंभतीर्थाय ददावर्घं समाहितः
Even Brahmā, with focused mind, offered arghya to Stambhatīrtha.
तीर्थानि च गुहं नाथं सम्मान्य विससर्ज सः
Having honored Guha, the Lord, he then released the tīrthas.
भूयश्चापि प्रसिद्ध्यर्थं प्रेषिताप्सरसोऽत्र मे
And again, for the sake of fame, I sent the Apsarases there.