श्रीशैल हिमशैलाद्या नानान्यायतनानि च
Śrīśaila, Himāśaila, and other various holy abodes,
तपांसि नानारूपाणि व्रतानि नियमा यमाः
Austerities of various forms, vows, observances, and restraints,
मानसान्यपि भौमानि धारातीर्थादिकानि च
Mental and earthly, and those beginning with the continuous sacred fords,
जपश्चापि मनूनां च तथाऽग्निहवनानि च
Also the recitation of mantras and the offerings into fire,
त्रिरात्रं पंचरात्राणि सांख्ययोगादयस्तथा 4.1.25.
Three-night, five-night observances, and likewise Sāṃkhya, Yoga, and others,
पुर्यश्चापि समाख्यातानृतजंतु विमुक्तिदा
And also the purificatory rites previously described, which grant liberation to creatures born of falsehood,
एतानि यानि प्रोक्तानि काशीप्राप्तिकराणि च
These, whatever have been declared, are means of attaining Kāśī.
अतएव हि तत्क्षेत्रं पवित्रमतिचित्रकृत्
Therefore, that field is indeed pure and wondrously made.
इदमेव हि तत्क्षेत्रं कुशलप्रश्नकारणम्
Indeed, this very field is the cause of auspicious inquiry.
अपि काश्याः समागच्छत्स्पर्शवत्स्पर्श इष्यते
Even the touch of one who has come from Kāśī is regarded as touch itself.
त्रिरात्रमपिये काश्यां वसंति नियतेंद्रियाः
Those who remain in Kāśī with controlled senses, even for three nights,
त्वं तु तत्र कृतावासः कृतपुण्यमहोच्चयः
But you, having dwelt there, have performed great and lofty acts of merit.
तव तत्र तु यत्कुंडमगस्तीश्वरसन्निधौ
And there, your sacred pit, in the presence of Agastīśvara,
पितॄन्पिंडैः समभ्यर्च्य श्रद्धाश्राद्धविधानतः
Having duly worshipped the ancestors with offerings, according to the prescribed rites of faith and śrāddha,
इत्युक्त्वा सर्वगात्राणि स्पष्ट्वा कुंभोद्भवस्य च 4.1.25.
Having thus spoken, and having touched all the limbs, as well as those of the one born from the pot,
जय विश्वेश नेत्राणि विनिमील्य वदन्नपि
He said, 'Victory to Viśveśa!' closing his eyes, even as he spoke.
स्कंदे विसर्जितध्याने सुप्रसन्नमनोमुखे
With his mind serene and face radiant, he fixed his meditation on Skanda.
वाराणस्यास्तु महिमा हिमशैलभुवे मुदा
The glory of Vārāṇasī was joyfully recounted to Him who was born of the snowy mountain.
त्वया यथा समाकर्णि तदुत्संगनिवासिना
Just as you heard it, O dweller in the lap, so it was narrated.
तत्क्षेत्रस्याविमुक्तस्य मम मातुः पुरः पुरा
Of that field, Avimukta, which formerly lay before my mother,
श्रुतं च यत्तदुत्संगे स्थितेन स्थिरचेतसा
And what was heard by you, sitting in her lap with steady mind,
गुह्यानां परमं गुह्यमविमुक्तमिहेरितम्
Avimukta is declared to be the supreme secret among all secrets.
भूर्लोके नैव संलग्नं तत्क्षेत्रं त्वंतरिक्षगम्
That field is not joined to the earthly realm, but moves in the intermediate space.
यस्तत्र निवसेद्विप्र संयतात्मा समाहितः
O brāhmaṇa, whoever dwells there, self-restrained and concentrated,
निमेषमात्रमपि यो ह्यविमुक्तेऽतिभक्तिभाक् 4.1.25.
Even one who, with utmost devotion, remains in Avimukta for but a moment,
यस्तु मासं वसेद्धीरो लघ्वाहारो जितेंद्रियः
But he who, self-controlled and moderate in food, dwells there for a month,
संवत्सरं वसंस्तत्र जितक्रोधो जितेंद्रियः
He who, having conquered anger and the senses, dwells there for a year,
परापवादरहितः किंचिद्दानपरायणः
Free from slander of others and devoted even to a little charity,
यावज्जीवं वसेद्यस्तु क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यविन्नरः
Whoever lives his whole life unaware of the greatness of this sacred field—
न योगैर्या गतिर्लभ्या जन्मांतरशतैरपि
The state that cannot be attained by yogic practices, even after hundreds of lifetimes—