सप्तानां च पुरीणां हि धुरी णामवयाम्यहम्
I have indeed borne the burden of the seven cities.
तथापि न चतस्रोन्या मया दृग्गोचरीकृताः
Yet, I have not brought even four of them within the range of my sight.
तीर्थयात्रां प्रतिदिनं कुर्वन्नूनं सवत्सरम्
Even performing pilgrimage daily for a whole year—
नाना प्रमाणैः प्रवणो निरगात्स तथाप्यहो
Though eager and departing with various means, still, alas—
किं कुर्वंति हि शास्त्राणि सप्रमाणानि सुंदरि
What use, O beautiful one, are the scriptures, even with their proofs?
कः समुच्चलितं चेतस्तोयंवा संप्रतीपयेत्
Who indeed can calm the mind, once it has been disturbed like water?
शिवशर्मा व्रजन्सोथ देशाद्देशांतरं क्रमात् 4.1.7.
Śivaśarmā, journeying thus, from land to land in succession—
कल्पेकल्पेखिलंविश्वं कालयेद्यः स्वलीलया
He who, in every age, dissolves the entire universe by his own play—
पापादवंती सा विश्वमवंतीति निगद्यते
She who removes sin is called Avanti, for she protects the world.
विपन्नो यत्र वै जंतुः प्राप्यापि शवतां स्फुटम्
Where a being, even after attaining it, perishes clearly among corpses—
यमदूता न यस्यां हि प्रविशंति कदाचन
Into which the messengers of Yama never enter at any time.
हाटकेशो महाकालस्तारके शस्तथैव च
Haṭakeśa, Mahākāla, Tāraka, and Śasta likewise.
ज्योतिः सिद्धवटे ज्योतिस्ते पश्यंतीह ये द्विजाः
The twice-born who see the light at Siddhavaṭa, that very light here—
महाकालस्य तल्लिंगं यैर्दृष्टं कष्टिभिः क्वचित
By whomsoever the liṅga of Mahākāla has been seen, even once, with effort—
महाकालपताकाग्रैः स्पृष्टपृष्ठास्तुरंगमाः
Horses whose backs are touched by the banners of Mahākāla—
महाकालमहाकालमहाकालेतिसंततम्
Constantly uttering 'Mahākāla, Mahākāla, Mahākāla!'
एवमाराध्य भूतेशं महाकालं ततो द्विजः 4.1.7.
Thus worshipping the Lord of beings, Mahākāla, then, O twice-born—
युगेयुगे द्वारवत्या रत्नानि परितो मुषन् 4.1.7.
In every age, stealing gems all around in Dvāravatī—
चिंतार्णवे निमग्नोभूत्त्यक्ताशो जीविते धने 4.1.7.
Sunk in the ocean of anxiety, having abandoned hope for life and wealth—
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य पीडासीदतिदारुणा 4.1.7.
Thus, as he was thinking, a most terrible pain befell him.
तद्विमानमथारुह्य पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः
Then, mounting that celestial chariot, clad in yellow, four-armed—
न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि श्रुत्वा त्वच्छ्रीमुखेरिताम्
I do not attain satisfaction, hearing the sweetness of your noble speech.
मायापुर्यां मुक्तिपुर्यां शिवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः
In Māyāpurī, in Muktipurī, Śivaśarmā, the best of twice-born—
पुरोद्दिश्यामुमेवार्थमितिहासो मयाश्रुतः
With reference to that very matter, I have heard this legend.
शृणु कांते विचित्रार्थां कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्
Listen, dear one, to this tale of wondrous meaning, destroyer of sin.
शिवशर्मोवाच किंचिद्विज्ञप्तुकामोहं प्रवृद्धकरसंपुटः
Śivaśarmā said: I wish to ask something, my hands joined in reverence.
न नाम युवयोर्वेद्मि वेद्म्याकृत्या च किंचन
I do not know your names, nor do I know anything by your forms.
एतदेव हि नौ नाम यदुक्तं श्रीमता त्वया
This alone is our name, as spoken by your honored self.
यदन्यदपि ते चित्ते प्रष्टव्यं तदशंकितम्
Whatever else you wish to ask in your mind, do so without hesitation.
इति श्रुत्वा स वचनं भगवद्गणभाषितम्
Hearing these words spoken by the Lord’s attendants,