सुचिरं नरकान्भुक्त्वा मदिरापानलंपटाः
Those addicted to drinking wine endure long torments in hell.
अतएव पुराणेषु गाथेति परिगीयते
Therefore, in the Purāṇas, this verse is celebrated.
क्व मांसं क्व शिवे भक्तिः क्व मद्यं क्व शिवार्चनम् 4.1.3.
Where is flesh, where is devotion to Śiva? Where is wine, where is the worship of Śiva?
विना शिवप्रसादं हि भ्रांतिः क्वापि न नश्यति
Without Śiva's grace, delusion is never dispelled anywhere.
इत्याश्रमचरान्दृष्ट्वा तिर्यञ्चोपि मुनीनिव
Thus, seeing the ascetics, even animals behave like sages.
यतो विश्वेश्वरेणैते तिर्यञ्चोप्यत्रवासिनः
For by the Lord of the Universe, even these animals dwelling here—
ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं यो वसेत्कृतनिश्चयः
Whoever, knowing the greatness of this place, dwells here with firm resolve—
अविमुक्तरहस्यज्ञा मुच्यंते ज्ञानि नो नराः
Those who know the secret of Avimukta are released; the ignorant are not.
इत्याश्चर्यपरा देवा यावद्यांत्याश्रमं मुनेः
Amazed, the gods remain until they reach the sage's hermitage.
सारसो लक्ष्मणाकंठे कंठमाधाय निश्चलः ६७ कंडूयमाना वरटा स्वचंचुपुटकोटिभिः
A crane, motionless, holds Lakṣmaṇa's neck in its beak, while leeches scratch themselves with the tips of their own beaks.
निरुद्ध्यमान चक्रेण चक्रीक्रेंकितभाषणैः
The wheel is being blocked by the wheel-bearer, with speech marked by the sound of the wheel.
कलकंठः किलोत्कंठं मंजुगुंजति कुंजगः 4.1.3.
The cuckoo, with a dark throat, yearns for its mate and sweetly coos in the grove.
केकीकेकां परित्यज्य मौनं तिष्ठति तद्भयात्
The peacock, abandoning its call, stands silent out of fear.
पठंती सारिकासारं शुकंसंबोधयत्यहो
The female starling recites the song of starlings and, indeed, instructs the parrot.
कोकिलः कोमलालापैः कलयन्किलकाकलीम्
The cuckoo, with its gentle calls, utters its melodious song.
मृगाणां पक्षिणामित्थं दृष्ट्वा चेष्टां त्रिविष्टपम्
Seeing the actions of the deer and birds in this way, the dwellers of heaven—
वरमेतेपक्षिमृगाः पशवः काशिवासिनः
It is better to be these birds, deer, or animals dwelling in Kāśī.
काशीस्थैः पतितैस्तुल्या न वयं स्वर्गिणः क्वचित्
We are never equal to those who have fallen in Kāśī, even if we are gods.
वरं काशीपुरी वासो मासोपवसनादिभिः
It is better to dwell in the city of Kāśī than to perform month-long fasts and similar austerities.
शशकैर्मशकैः काश्यां यत्पदं हेलयाप्यते
Even the spot in Kāśī that is trodden upon by hares and mosquitoes—
वरं वाराणसीरंको निःशंकोयो यमादपि
It is better to be a fearless frog in Vārāṇasī than to be under the rule of Yama.
ब्रह्मणो दिवसाष्टांशेषपदमैंद्रं विनश्यति 4.1.3.
The position of Indra perishes in one-eighth of a day of Brahmā.
परार्धद्वयनाशेपि काशीस्थो यो न नश्यति
But one who dwells in Kāśī does not perish, even after the destruction of two parārdhas.
यत्सुखं काशिवासेत्र न तद्ब्रह्मांडमंडपे
The happiness found in dwelling at Kāśī is not found even in the palace of the cosmic egg.
जन्मांतरसहस्रेषु यत्पुण्यं समुपार्जितम्
The merit accumulated over thousands of previous births—
लब्धोपि सिद्धिं नो यायाद्यदि कुद्ध्येत्त्रिलोचनः
Even if obtained, success would not be achieved if the Three-eyed One were to be angered.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम्
The four aims of human life—dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa—
आलस्येनापि यो यायाद्गृहाद्विश्वेश्वरालयम्
Even one who, out of laziness, goes from his house to the temple of Viśveśvara—
यः स्नात्वोत्तरवाहिन्यां याति विश्वे शदर्शने
He who, after bathing in the north-flowing river, goes to see Viśveśvara—
स्वर्धुनी दर्शनात्स्पर्शात्स्नानादाचमनादपि
By seeing, touching, bathing in, or even sipping the water of the heavenly river—