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—
लोहितो नाम तत्रास्ति गिरिः स्वर्णगिरिप्रभः
There is a mountain there called Lohita, shining like a golden mountain—
कैलासस्यैकशकलं कर्मभूमाविहागतम्
It is a fragment of Kailasa that has come to the land of action—
तत्राद्राक्षीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठोऽगस्त्यः साक्षात्षडाननम्
There, the foremost sage Agastya beheld the six-faced one directly—
तुष्टाव गिरिजासूनुं सूक्तैः श्रुतिसमुद्भवैः
He praised the son of Girija with hymns born from the Vedas—
अगस्तिरुवाच नमोस्तु वृंदारकवृंदवंद्य पादारविंदाय सुधाकराय 4.1.25.
Agastya said: Salutations to you, whose lotus feet are worshipped by hosts of divine youths, who are like the moon among them.
नमोस्तु तुभ्यं प्रणतार्तिहंत्रे कर्त्रे समस्तस्य मनोरथानाम्
Salutations to you, destroyer of the distress of those who bow to you, fulfiller of all desires.
अमूर्तमूर्ताय सहस्रमूर्तये गुणाय गुण्याय परात्पराय
To the one who is both formless and with form, who has a thousand forms, who is virtue and the possessor of virtues, who is beyond the highest—salutations.
नमोस्तु ते ब्रह्मविदांवराय दिगंबरायांबर संस्थिताय
Salutations to you, supreme among knowers of Brahman, clothed in the directions, abiding in the sky.
तपःस्वरूपाय तपोधनाय तपःफलानां प्रतिपादकाय
To you, whose very nature is austerity, who is rich in austerity, who bestows the fruits of austerity—salutations.
नमोस्तु तुभ्यं शरजन्मने विभो प्रभातसूर्यारुणदंतपंक्तये
Salutations to you, O mighty one, born from the arrow, whose row of teeth shines like the red rays of the rising sun.
मीढुष्टमायोत्तरमीढुषे नमो नमो गणानां पतये गणाय
Repeated salutations to the most generous, to the supreme giver, to the lord of the hosts, to the leader of the hosts.
सर्वस्य नाथस्य कुमारकाय क्रौंचारये तारकमारकाय
To the lord of all, the youthful one, the slayer of Krauncha, the destroyer of Taraka—salutations.
इत्थं परिष्टुत्य स कार्तिकेयं नमो नमस्त्वित्यभिभाषमाणः
Thus, having praised Kārtikeya in this way, he spoke, saying 'Salutations, salutations to you.'
जाने त्वामिह संप्राप्तं तथा विंध्याचलोन्नतिम्
I know that you have now arrived here, and likewise the greatness of Mount Vindhya.
अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे क्षेमं त्र्यक्षेण रक्षिते 4.1.25.
In Avimukta, the great sacred field, protected by the three-eyed one, there is safety.
भूर्भुवः स्वस्तले वापि न पातालतले मलम्
Whether on earth, in the mid-region, in heaven, or even in the netherworld, there is no impurity.
अहमेकचरोप्यत्र तत्क्षेत्रप्राप्तये मुने
I, though wandering alone, have come here, O sage, to reach that field.
न तत्पुण्यैर्न तद्दानैर्न तपोभिर्न तज्जपैः
Not by merits, nor by gifts, nor by austerities, nor by recitations is that attained.
ईश्वरानुग्रहादेव काशीवासः सुदुर्लभः
Only by the grace of the Lord is residence in Kāśī exceedingly rare.
अन्यैव काचित्सा सृष्टिर्विधातुर्याऽतिरेकिणी
There is indeed another creation of the Creator, which is extraordinary.