अवैमि त्वामपि नृपद्विजोऽभूः पूर्वजन्मनि
I know that you too were a king or a Brahmin in a previous birth.
तत्पुण्यात्प्राप्य वैकुंठं भुक्त्वा भोगान्मनोरमान्
By that merit, having attained Vaikuntha and enjoyed delightful pleasures—
वृद्धकालावनीपाल तेनैव सुकृतेन च
You became a king in old age, by that very good deed.
अन्यच्च शृणु राजेंद्र त्वया यत्समुदीरितम्
And now, O king of kings, listen further to what you have asked.
सुकृतं नैव सततमाख्यातव्यं कदाचन
Good deeds should never be constantly proclaimed.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गोपनीयं निधानवत् 4.1.24.
Therefore, by every effort, they should be guarded like a treasure.
निश्चितं विश्वनाथेन प्रेरितेन त्वयाऽनघ
Certainly, by the prompting of Viśvanātha, you have acted, O sinless one.
वृद्धकालेश्वरं नाम लिंगमेतन्महीपते
This liṅga is called Vṛddhakāleśvara, O king.
दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्तस्य पूजनाच्छ्रवणान्नतेः
By seeing, touching, worshipping, hearing of, or bowing to it—
कूपः कालोदको नाम जराव्याधिविघातकृत्
There is a well named Kālodaka, which destroys old age, disease, and obstacles.
कृतकूपोदकस्नानः कृतैतल्लिंगपूजनः
One who bathes with the water from that well, and worships that liṅga—
न कुष्ठं न च विस्फोटा नरंघा न विचर्चिका
Will not suffer from leprosy, boils, abscesses, or skin diseases.
नाग्निमांद्यं नैव शूलं न मेहो न प्रवाहिका
Nor will there be sluggishness of digestion, colic, diabetes, or dysentery.
भूतज्वराश्च ये केचिद्ये केचिद्विषमज्वराः
Any fevers caused by spirits, or any kind of irregular fever—
तवाग्रतो मम जरा पलितं च यथाविधि
In your presence, my old age and gray hair are as they should be.
वृद्धकालेश्वरे लिंगे सेवितेन दरिद्रता 4.1.24.
By serving the liṅga of Vṛddhakāleśvara, poverty is removed.
उत्तरे कृत्तिवासस्य वाराणस्यां प्रयत्नतः
In the northern part of Krittivasa's city, in Varanasi, with great devotion—
इत्युक्त्वा तं महीपालं हस्ते धृत्वा तपोधनः
Having spoken thus, the sage, rich in austerity, took the king by the hand—
महाकाल महाकाल महाकालेति कीर्तनात्
By the repeated chanting of 'Mahakala, Mahakala, Mahakala'—
इत्थं भवित्री ते मुक्तिः कैटभारातिदर्शनात्
In this way, liberation will be yours, through the vision of the great destroyer of the demon Kaitabha.
इति संहृष्टतनूरुहः स विप्रो भगवत्तद्गणवक्त्रतो निशम्य
Hearing this from the mouth of the Lord's attendant, the brahmin, his hair bristling with joy—
मायापुर्यां कृतप्राणत्याग पुण्यबलेन च
By the merit of his virtuous deeds, having given up his life in Mayapuri—
वैकुंठलोकादागत्य पत्तने नंदिवर्धने
He came from the world of Vaikuntha to the city of Nandivardhana—
तेषु राज्यं विनिक्षिप्य प्राप्य वाराणसीं पुरीम्
Having entrusted the kingdom to them, he reached the city of Varanasi—
एतत्पुण्यतमाख्यानं विप्रस्य शिवशर्मणः
This is the most sacred story of the brahmin Shiva Sharma—
यामाकर्ण्य नरो भूयाद्विरजा ज्ञानभाजनम्
Hearing this, a man becomes pure and a vessel of knowledge—
गिरिं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य श्रीसंज्ञं कलशोद्भवः
Having circumambulated the mountain, the one born from the pot, named Shri, did so—
सर्वर्तं कुसुमाढ्यं च रसवत्फलपादपम्
It is adorned with all seasons, abundant with flowers, and trees bearing juicy fruits—
निवीतश्वापदगणं ससरित्पल्वलावृतम्
Inhabited by herds of wild animals, and covered with rivers and marshes—
नानापतत्रिसंघुष्टं नानामुनिजनोषितम्
Resounding with many kinds of birds, and inhabited by various sages—