क्रियंते व्याकुलाः शैला अहो दावाग्निना प्रिये
By whom the mountains are thrown into confusion—ah, beloved, by the forest fire.
नियन्ता सर्वभूतानां योसौ दण्डधरः प्रभुः
He is the controller of all beings, that lord who wields the staff of punishment.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तुषिताः स मरुद्गणाः
The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, the Tusitas, and the hosts of Maruts—
येषां दृक्पातमात्रेण पतंति भुवनान्यपि
At merely the casting of their glance, even the worlds fall.
आज्ञातं कारणं तच्च स्मृतं वाक्यं सुभाषितम्
The reason has been understood, and that well-spoken statement is remembered.
अविमुक्तं न मोक्तव्यं सर्वथैव मुमुक्षुभिः 4.1.5.
Avimukta must never be abandoned in any way by those who seek liberation.
उपस्थितोयं कल्याणि सोंऽतरायो महानिह
This great obstacle has now arisen here, O auspicious one.
काशीद्विजाशीर्भिरहो यदाप्ता कस्तां मुमुक्षुर्यदिवामुमुक्षुः
Alas, when the blessings of the Brahmins of Kashi are attained, who would wish to be liberated, or who would not?
अहो जना बालिशवत्किमेतां काशीं त्यजेयुः सुकृतैकराशिम्
Ah! How could people, like children, abandon this Kashi, the heap of all good deeds?
भवांतरा वर्जित पुण्यराशिं कृच्छैर्महद्भिर्ह्यवगम् यकाशीम्
Kashi, free from rebirth, is a mass of merit, known only through great and difficult effort.
क्व काशिका विश्वपदप्रकाशिका क्व कार्यमन्यत्परितोतिदुःखम्
Where is Kashi, the illuminator of the universal path, and where are other actions, full of sorrow and dissatisfaction?
काशीं प्रकाशीं कृतपुण्यराशिं हा शीघ्रनाशी विसृजेन्नरः किम्
Why would a man abandon radiant Kashi, the storehouse of good deeds, which is swiftly destroyed?
नरो न रोगी यदिहाविहाय सहायभूतां सकलस्य जंतोः
A man here, not diseased, should not leave Kashi, which is the companion of all living beings.
वित्रस्तपापां त्रिदशैर्दुरापां गंगां सदापां भवपाशशापाम्
Ganga, always accessible, removes the bondage of existence, is feared by sinners, and hard to reach even for the gods.
हंहो किमंहो निचिताः प्रलब्धा बंहीयसायास भरेण काशीम्
Alas! What is this? Having gathered and obtained Kashi with great effort and burden, why abandon it?
अहो जनानां जडता विहाय काशीं यदन्यत्र न यंति चेतः 4.1.5.
Ah! The dullness of people—having forsaken Kashi, their minds do not go elsewhere.
रेरे भवे शोकजलैकपूर्णे पापेस्मलोकाः पतिताब्धिमध्ये
Alas! In the world, filled only with the waters of sorrow, sinful people are fallen in the midst of the ocean of ruin.
न सत्पथेनापि न योगयुक्त्या दानैर्नवा नैव तपोभिरुग्रैः
Not by the true path, nor by yoga, nor by gifts, nor by fierce austerities is it attained.
धर्मस्तु संपत्तिभरैः किलोह्यतेप्यर्थो हि कामैर्बहुदानभोगकैः
Dharma is indeed destroyed by the weight of riches; and wealth, by many gifts and enjoyments, is ruined by desires.
क्षेत्रं पवित्रं हि यथाऽविमुक्तं नान्यत्तथायच्छ्रुतिभिः प्रयुक्तम्
Just as Avimukta is the purest field, so none other is spoken of in the scriptures as equal.
सहोवाचेति जाबालिरारुणेसिरिडामता
Thus said Jabali to Aruneya, the son of Iridā.
सा सुषुम्णा परानाडी त्रयं वाराणसीत्वसौ
That Suṣumnā is the supreme channel; the three are Varanasi itself.
तारकं ब्रह्मव्याचष्टे तेन ब्रह्म भवंति हि
Taraka is declared as Brahman; by it, one becomes Brahman indeed.
भगवानंतकालेऽत्र तारकस्योपदेशतः
At the time of death, the Blessed One, by the instruction of Taraka, attains Brahman here.
नाविमुक्तसमंक्षेत्रं नाविमुक्तसमा गतिः
There is no field equal to Avimukta, nor any path equal to Avimukta.
अविमुक्तं परित्यज्य योन्यत्र कुरुते रतिम् 4.1.5.
Abandoning Avimukta, if one delights elsewhere, it is not right.
इत्थं सुनिश्चित्य मुनिर्महात्मा क्षेत्रप्रभावं श्रुतितः पुराणात्
Thus, having firmly determined the greatness of the sacred place from what he had heard in the Purāṇas, the great-souled sage—
श्रीकालराजं च ततः प्रणम्य विज्ञापयामास मुनीशवर्यः
—then, bowing to Śrī Kālarāja, the best among sages made his request.
हा कालराजप्रति भूतमत्र प्रत्यष्टमिप्रत्यवनीसुतार्कम्
Alas, Kālarāja, you are present here; the spirits and the sun, offspring of the earth, are also here.
हा कालभैरव भवानभितो भयार्तान्माभैष्ट चे तिभणनैः स्वकरं प्रसार्य
Alas, Kālabhairava, you stand nearby—those who are afflicted by fear, do not be afraid! Saying this, he extended his own hand.