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—
पंचतीर्थावलोकाच्च ततो विश्वेश्वरेक्षणात्
By viewing the five sacred fords, and then beholding Viśveśvara—
प्रदक्षिणैः स्तोत्रजपैर्नमस्कारैस्तु नर्त्तनैः 4.1.3.
By circumambulations, hymn recitations, salutations, and dances—
धूर्जटे नीलकंठेश पिनाकिञ्शशिशेखर
O Lord Dhūrjaṭi, O Nīlakaṇṭha, O Pināka-wielder, O one adorned with the moon upon your crest,
मुक्तिमंडपिकायां च निमेषार्धो पवेशनात्
And in the pavilion of liberation, with but half a blink, one enters.
नित्यादिकर्मकरणात्तथातिथिसमर्चनैः
Through the performance of daily and prescribed rites, and by honoring guests,
शुक्लपक्षे यथा चंद्रः कलया कलयैधते
Just as the moon waxes by its digits in the bright fortnight,
श्रद्धाबीजो विप्रपादांबुसिक्तः शाखाविद्यास्ताश्चतस्रो दशापि
The seed of faith, sprinkled by the water from the feet of Brahmins, yields the four branches of knowledge and even ten stages.
सर्वार्थानामत्रदात्री भवानी सर्वान्कामान्पूरयेदत्र ढुंढिः
Here, Bhavānī is the giver of all purposes; here, Ḍhuṃḍhi fulfills all desires.
काश्यां धर्मस्तच्चतुष्पादरूपः काश्यामर्थः सोप्यने कप्रकारः
In Kāśī, Dharma appears in its fourfold form; in Kāśī, Artha too manifests in various ways.
विश्वेश्वरो यत्र न तत्र चित्रं धर्मार्थकामामृतरूपरूपः
Where Viśveśvara abides, it is no wonder, for Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and Mokṣa take form there.