गृहाणेमं स्वतनयं पार्षदे शंकराज्ञया
"Take this, your own son, O attendant, by the command of Shankara."
समाधिसमये सर्वमिति शृण्वन्नुदारधीः
At the time of meditation, hearing all this, the noble-minded one—
संपश्यते शिशुं तावत्पुरतः समवैक्षत
He beheld the child right before him, gazing intently.
तोयार्द्रकाकपक्षाग्रं कषायनयनांचलम्
With the tips of his crow-black hair wet with water, and the edge of his garment stained.
कृतप्रणाममालिंग्य जिघ्रंस्तन्मुखपंकजम्
Having bowed down, he embraced him and inhaled the fragrance of his lotus-like face.
शतानिपंचवर्षाणि प्रणिधानस्थितस्य हि
For five hundred years, he remained absorbed in deep meditation.
कर्दमोपि च तत्कालमज्ञासीत्क्षणसंगतम्
Even Kardama, at that time, did not realize how swiftly the moment had passed.
ततस्तं तनयः पृष्ट्वा पितरं प्रणिपत्य च
Then, after respectfully bowing to his father, the son questioned him.
तत्र तप्त्वा तपो घोरं लिंगं संस्थाप्य शांभवम् 4.1.12.
There, after performing intense austerity, he established the Śāmbhava liṅga.
आविरासीन्महादेवस्तुष्टस्तत्तपसा ततः
Then, Mahādeva appeared, pleased by that austerity.
कार्दमिरुवाच यदि नाथ प्रसन्नोसि भक्तानामनुकंपक
Kardama said: 'O Lord, if you are pleased, compassionate to your devotees—'
इति श्रुत्वा महेशानः सर्वचिंतितदः प्रभुः
Hearing this, Maheśāna, the Lord who grants all desires, spoke.
रत्नानामब्धिजातानामब्धीनां सरितामपि
Of all the gems born from the ocean, of the oceans and the rivers,
जलाशयानां सर्वेषां प्रतीच्याश्चापि वैदिशः
Of all the reservoirs of water, and also of the western and other directions,
ददामि वरमन्यं च सर्वेषां हितकारकम्
I grant you another boon, one that brings benefit to all.
वरुणेशमिति ख्यातं वाराणस्यां सुसिद्धिदम्
It will be known as Varuṇeśa, bestower of great success in Vārāṇasī.
आराधितं सदा पुंसां सर्वजाड्यविनाशकृत्
Always worshipped by people, it destroys all forms of dullness.
न संतापभयं तेषां नापायमरणं क्वचित्
For them, there is no suffering, no fear, nor any danger of death at any time.
नीरसान्यन्नपानानि वरुणेश्वर संस्मृतेः 4.1.12.
Even tasteless food and drink become pleasing when Varuṇeśvara is remembered.
इदं वरुणलोकस्य स्वरूपं ते निरूपितम्
This is the true nature of the world of Varuṇa, as revealed to you.
गणावूचतुः इमां गंधवतीं पुण्यां पुरीं वायोर्विलोकय
The Gaṇas said: 'Behold this fragrant, sacred city of Gandhavatī, belonging to Vāyu.'
अस्यां प्रभंजनो नाम जगत्प्राणोदिगीश्वरः
In this city, Prabhañjana by name, is the lord of the directions and the life-breath of the world.
पुरा कश्यपदायादः पूतात्मेति च विश्रुतः
Long ago, the descendant of Kaśyapa, renowned as Pūtātmā,
वाराणस्यां महाभागो वर्षाणामयुतं शतम्
dwelt in Vārāṇasī, O illustrious one, for a hundred thousand years.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पूतात्मा जायते नरः
By merely seeing him, a person would become pure in soul.
उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा करुणामृतसागरः
And he spoke, his mind serene, an ocean of nectar-like compassion.
अनेन तपसोग्रेण लिंगस्याराधनेन च
By this intense austerity and by worship of the liṅga,
देवदेवमहादेव देवानामभयप्रद
O God of gods, Great Lord, bestower of fearlessness to the gods,
वेदास्त्वां न च विंदंति किमात्मक इति प्रभो 4.1.13.
Even the Vedas do not find you out—what is your true nature, O Lord?
ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोपि गिरां गोचरो न च वाक्पतेः
Neither Brahmā nor Viṣṇu, nor even the lord of speech, can reach you with words.