किं बहूक्तेन विप्रेंद्र महोदयमभीप्सुना
Why speak at length, O foremost of Brahmins, to one desiring great merit,
प्रयागतोपि तीर्थेशात्सर्वेषु भुवनेष्वपि 4.1.22.
Even coming from Prayāga or from the lords of holy places, in all worlds,
प्रयागादपि वै रम्यमविमुक्तं न संशयः
Indeed, Avimukta is more delightful than Prayāga; there is no doubt,
अविमुक्तान्महाक्षेत्राद्विश्वेश समधिष्ठितात्
Avimukta, the great field, is established by Viśveśa,
अविमुक्तमिदं क्षेत्रमपि ब्रह्मांडमध्यगम्
This field of Avimukta is situated in the center of the cosmic egg,
यथायथा हि वर्धेत जलमेकार्णवस्य च
Just as the water of the single ocean increases,
क्षेत्रमेतत्त्रिशूलाग्रे शूलिनस्तिष्ठति द्विज
This field stands at the tip of the trident, where the wielder of the trident abides, O Brahmin,
सदा कृतयुगं चात्र महापर्वसदाऽत्र वै
Here, it is always the Krita Yuga; here, there is always a great festival,
सदा सौम्यायनं तत्र सदा तत्र महोदयः
There is always the gentle path there; there is always great merit there,
यथाभूमितले विप्र पुर्यः संति सहस्रशः
Just as there are thousands of cities upon the earth, O Brahmin,
मया सृष्टानि विप्रेंद्र भुवनानि चतुर्दश
I have created, O foremost of Brahmins, the fourteen worlds,
पुरा यमस्तपस्तप्त्वा बहुकालं सुदुष्करम् 4.1.22.
Long ago, Yama performed severe austerities for a long time,
चराचरस्य सर्वस्य यानि कर्माणि तानि वै
All the actions of everything, both moving and unmoving,
प्रवेशो यमदूतानां न कदाचिद्द्विजोत्तम
There is never entry for Yama's messengers, O best of Brahmins,
स्वयं नियंता विश्वेशस्तत्र काश्यां तनुत्यजाम्
The Lord of all, the self-governing ruler, relinquished his body there in Kāśī.
तत्र पापं न कर्तव्यं दारुणा रुद्रयातना
There, one must not commit sin; dreadful are the torments of Rudra.
पापमेव हि कर्तव्यं मतिरस्ति यदीदृशी
Indeed, only sin should be committed if one possesses such a disposition.
अपि कामातुरो जंतुरेकां रक्षति मातरम्
Even a creature overwhelmed by desire protects his mother alone.
परापवादशीलेन परदाराभिलाषिणा
With a nature inclined to slander others and desiring another's wife,
अभिलष्यंति ये नित्यं धनं चात्र प्रतिग्रहैः
Those who constantly covet wealth here through gifts,
परपीडाकरं कर्म काश्यां नित्यं विवर्जयेत्
One should always avoid actions causing harm to others in Kāśī.
त्यक्त्वा वैश्वेश्वरीं भक्तिं येऽन्यदेवपरायणाः 4.1.22.
Having abandoned devotion to Viśveśvarī, those devoted to other deities—
न योगेन विना ज्ञानं योगस्तत्त्वार्थशीलनम् 4.1.22.
Without yoga, there is no knowledge; yoga is the practice of the true meaning.
उक्तेति विररामाजः शृण्वतोर्गणयोस्तयोः
Having spoken thus, Aja ceased, as the two Gaṇas listened.
शिवशर्मोवाच सत्यलोकेश्वर विधे सर्वेषां प्रपितामह
Śivaśarman said: O Lord of Satyaloka, O creator, ancestor of all,
पिपृच्छिषुस्त्वं निर्वाणं गणौ तत्कथयिष्यतः
You, the disciple, inquire about liberation from the Gaṇas as they are about to narrate it.
नेतयोर्विष्णुगणयोरगोचरमिहास्ति हि
Indeed, here exists what is beyond the reach of these two, the Gaṇas of Viṣṇu.
इत्युक्त्वा सत्कृतास्ते वै ब्रह्मणा भगवद्गणाः
Having spoken thus, those divine Gaṇas were honored by Brahmā.
पुनः स्वयानमारुह्य वैकुंठमभितो ययुः
Then, mounting their own vehicle again, they departed towards Vaikuṇṭha.
पृच्छाम्यन्यच्च वां भद्रौ ब्रूतं प्रीत्या तदप्यहो
I ask you something else, O blessed ones; kindly tell it with affection, indeed.