महापापौघशमनीं पुण्योपचयकारिणीम्
It destroys heaps of great sins and brings the accumulation of merit.
एवं ज्ञात्वा तु मेधावी नाविमुक्तं त्यजेन्नरः
Thus understanding, the wise man should never abandon Avimukta.
अविमुक्तस्य माहात्म्यं षड्भिर्वक्त्रैः कथं मया
How can I, with six mouths, describe the greatness of Avimukta?
अगस्तिरुवाच प्रसन्नोसि यदि स्कंद मयि प्रीतिरनुत्तमा
Agastya said: If you are pleased, Skanda, and your affection for me is supreme—
अविमुक्तमिदं क्षेत्रं कदारभ्य भुवस्तले
When did this field of Avimukta begin upon the earth?
कथमेषा त्रिलोकीड्या गीयते मणिकर्णिका
How is it that Manikarnika, praised in all three worlds, is sung?
वाराणसीति काशीति रुद्रावास इति प्रभो आनंदकाननं रम्यमविमुक्तमनंतरम्
O Lord, Varanasi is called Kashi, the abode of Rudra; the delightful Anandakanana and Avimukta are within it.
महाश्मशान इति च कथं ख्यातं शिखिध्वज
And how is it known as the Great Cremation Ground, O one with the peacock banner?
प्रश्नभारोयमतुलस्त्वया यः समुदाहृतः
This question you have raised is truly weighty and incomparable.
यथा च देवदेवेन सर्वज्ञेन निवेदितम्
As it was declared by the god of gods, the all-knowing one,
महाप्रलय काले च नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे
At the time of the great dissolution, when all that is moving and unmoving is destroyed,
अचंद्रमनहोरात्रमनग्न्यनिलभूतलम्
When there is no moon, no mind, no day or night, no fire, no wind, and no earth,
द्रष्टृत्वादि विहीनं च शब्दस्पर्शसमुज्झितम् 4.1.26.
Devoid of seer and the seen, and free from sound and touch,
इत्थं सत्यंधतमसि सूचीभेद्ये निरंतरे
Thus, in that unbroken, impenetrable darkness of truth,
अमनोगोचरोवाचां विषयं न कथंचन
It is beyond the reach of mind and never an object of speech in any way.
अह्रस्वदीर्घमलघुगुरुत्वपरिवर्जितम्
It is free from shortness and length, from lightness and heaviness.
अभिधत्ते स चकितं यदस्तीति श्रुतिः पुनः
Yet, the scripture again hesitantly declares that 'it exists.'
अप्रमेयमनाधारमविकारमनाकृति
It is immeasurable, without support, changeless, and formless.
निर्विकल्पं निरारंभं निर्मायं निरुपद्रवम्
It is without distinction, without beginning, without illusion, and without disturbance.
तस्यैकलस्य चरतो द्वितीयेच्छा भवत्किल
For that One, as it moved alone, a second desire is said to have arisen.
सर्वैश्वर्यगुणोपेता सर्वज्ञानमयी शुभा
Endowed with all lordly qualities, composed of all knowledge, and auspicious,
सर्वैकवंद्या सर्वाद्या सर्वदा सर्वसंकृतिः
Worthy of worship by all, the first of all, always, and the source of all creation,
अंतर्दधे पराख्यं यद्ब्रह्मसर्वंगमव्ययम् ।। 4.1.26.
That supreme, all-pervading, imperishable Brahman disappeared within.
अमूर्तं यत्पराख्यं वै तस्य मूर्तिरहं प्रिये
That which is called the supreme, formless one—O beloved, I am its form.
ततस्तदैकलेनापि स्वैरं विहरतामया
Then, at that time, even in a single moment, as I wandered freely,
प्रधानं प्रकृतिं त्वां च मायां गुणवतीं पराम्
I beheld the Pradhāna, the primordial Nature, and you, the supreme Māyā endowed with qualities.
युगपच्च त्वया शक्त्या साकं कालस्वरूपिणा
And simultaneously, by your power together with the form of Time,
सा शक्तिः प्रकृतिः प्रोक्ता स पुमानीश्वरः परः
That power is called Prakṛti; that Supreme Lord is the Puruṣa.
परमानंदरूपाभ्यां परमानंदरूपिणी
Of the two forms of supreme bliss, she is the embodiment of supreme bliss.
मुने प्रलयकालेपि न तत्क्षेत्रं कदाचन
O sage, even at the time of dissolution, that field is never destroyed.