कांच्यवंती द्वारवती काश्ययोध्या च पंचमी
Kāñcī, Avantī, Dvāravatī, Kāśī, and Ayodhyā are the fifth.
विहाय षट्पुरीश्चान्याः काश्यामेवप्रतिष्ठिता
Abandoning the other six cities, they are established only in Kāśī.
इति सर्वं मम पुरः प्रसादाद्वक्तुमर्हतम्
Thus, by your grace, you are worthy to speak all this before me.
यथार्थं कथयावस्ते यत्पृष्टं भवतानघ 4.1.23.
Tell me truthfully, as you have been asked, O sinless one.
विप्रावभासते यावत्किरणैः पुष्पवंतयोः
As long as the rays of the two flower-bearing ones shine forth, O Brahmin,
वियच्च तावदुपरि विस्तारपरिमंडलम्
so long does the expanse of the sky above them extend in a circular form.
भानोः सकाशादुपरि लक्षे लक्ष्यः क्षपाकरः
Above the sun, at a hundred thousand leagues, is the moon, the illuminator of night.
उडुमंडलतः सौम्य उपरिष्टाद्द्विलक्षतः
Above the sphere of the moon, gentle one, at twice that distance, are the stars.
माहेयादुपरिष्टाच्च सुरेज्यो नियुतद्वये
Above the region of the stars, at two hundred thousand leagues, is the realm of the gods.
दशायुतसमुच्छ्रायं सौरेः सप्तर्षिमंडलम्
Ten hundred thousand leagues above the sun is the constellation of the Seven Sages.
पादगम्यं हि यत्किंचिद्वस्त्वस्ति धरणीतले
Whatever is accessible by foot on the surface of the earth exists there.
भूर्लोकाच्च भुवर्लोको ब्रध्नावधिरुदाहृतः
Above the world of earth is the Bhuvarloka, known as the boundary of Bradhna.
महर्लोकः क्षितेरूर्ध्वमेककोटिप्रमाणतः
Above the earth is Maharloka, measuring ten million leagues.
चतुष्कोटिप्रमाणस्तु तपोलोकोऽस्ति भूतलात् 4.1.23.
Four times that distance from the earth is Tapoloka.
सत्यादुपरि वैकुंठो योजनानां प्रमाणतः
Above Satyaloka is Vaikuntha, measured in leagues.
यत्रास्ते श्रीपतिः साक्षात्सर्वेषामभयप्रदः
There dwells the Lord of Shri, directly granting fearlessness to all.
पार्वत्या सहितः शंभुर्गजास्य स्कंद नंदिभिः
With Parvati is Shambhu, with Ganesha, Skanda, and Nandi.
तस्य देवस्य खेलोऽयं स्वलीला मूर्तिधारिणः
This is the sport of that god, who assumes forms by his own play.
सर्वेषां शासकश्चासौ तस्य शास्ता न चापरः
He is the ruler of all; there is no other lord but him.
सर्वज्ञ एकः स प्रोक्तः स्वेच्छाधीन विचेष्टितः
He alone is called the all-knower, acting according to his own will.
अमूर्तं यत्परं ब्रह्म समूर्तं श्रुतिचोदितम्
That Supreme Brahman, which is formless, is also described in the scriptures as having form.
सर्वेभ्यः कारणेभ्यश्च परात्परतरं परम्
It is the highest of the high, beyond all causes and their origins.
संविदं तेन यं वेदा विष्णुर्वेद न वै विधिः
That consciousness, which the Vedas know as Viṣṇu, is not known by ritual.
स्वयंवेद्यः परं ज्योतिः सर्वस्य हृदि संस्थितः 4.1.23.
It is the supreme light, self-revealed, abiding in the heart of all.
नानारूपोप्यरूपो यः सर्वगोपि न गोचरः
Though appearing in many forms, it is formless; though all-pervading, it is not an object of perception.
तस्येदमैश्वरं रूपं खंडचंद्रावतंसकम्
Its divine form is adorned with a crescent moon as an ornament.
लसद्वामार्धनारीकं कृतशेषशुभांगदम्
It shines with the form of Ardhanārī, half-woman on the left, and is adorned with the auspicious ornaments of Śeṣa.
स्मरांगरजःपुंज पूजितावयवोज्ज्वलम्
Its radiant limbs are worshipped with the dust of Kāmadeva's body.
महोक्षस्यंदनगमं विरुताजगवायुधम्
It rides the great bull, carries a bow, and is armed with the weapons of the wild ox.
उत्त्रासित महामृत्यु महाबलगणावृतम् मनोरथपथातीतं वरदानपरायणम्
Surrounded by mighty hosts, it terrifies great death; it is beyond the path of desire and devoted to granting boons.