यथा सदाशिव त्वत्तो न किंचिदधिकं शिवम्
Just as, O Sadashiva, nothing surpasses You in auspiciousness,
विना सांख्येन योगेन विना स्वात्मावलोकनम्
Without Sāṃkhya, without Yoga, and without self-contemplation,
शशका मशका कीटाः पतं गास्तुरगोरगाः 4.1.26.
Hares, flies, insects, birds, horses, serpents—
नामापि गृह्णतां काश्याः सदैवास्त्वेनसः क्षयः
For those who even utter the name of Kāśī, let the stain of sin always perish.
सदा कृतयुगं चास्तु सदाचास्तूत्तरायणम्
May the age of virtue always prevail, and may the northern course always endure.
यानि कानि पवित्राणि श्रुत्युक्तानि सदाशिव
Whatever sacred things are spoken of in the scriptures, O Sadashiva,
चतुर्णामपि वेदानां पुण्यमध्ययनाच्च यत्
Whatever merit arises from studying all four Vedas,
अष्टांगयोगाभ्यासेन यत्पुण्यमपि जायतेः
Whatever merit is produced by practicing the eightfold Yoga,
कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणाद्यैश्च यच्छ्रेयः समुपार्ज्यते
Whatever excellence is accumulated by difficult vows like Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa,
अन्यत्र यत्तपस्तप्त्वा श्रेयः स्याच्छरदां शतम्
Elsewhere, whatever austerity is performed that brings benefit for a hundred autumns,
आजन्म मौनव्रततो यदन्यत्रफलं स्मृतम्
Whatever fruit is remembered elsewhere from lifelong vows of silence,
अन्यत्र दत्त्वा सर्वस्वं सुकृतं यत्समीरितम्
Elsewhere, whatever good is declared from giving away all one's possessions,
मुक्तिक्षेत्राणि सर्वाणि यत्संसेव्योदितं फलम् 4.1.26.
Whatever fruit is spoken of from serving all fields of liberation,
प्रयागस्नानपुण्येन यत्पुण्यं स्याच्छिवप्रदम्
Whatever merit that grants Shiva is gained by bathing at Prayāga,
यत्पुण्यमश्वमेधेन यत्पुण्यं राजसूयतः
Whatever merit comes from the Ashvamedha and whatever merit from the Rājasūya,
तुलापुरुषदानेन यत्पुण्यं सम्यगाप्यते
Whatever merit is fully obtained by giving the Tula-purusha gift,
इति विष्णोर्वरं श्रुत्वा देवदेवो जगत्पतिः
Having heard this boon granted by Viṣṇu, the god of gods, the lord of the world,
विधेहि सृष्टिं विविधां यथावत्त्वं श्रुतीरिताम्
Create the various creations as prescribed in the scriptures, in the proper manner.
पितेव सर्वभूतानां धर्मतः पालको भव
Be the protector of all beings, like a father, according to righteousness.
धर्मेतरपथस्थानामुपसंहृतये हरे
O Hari, for the removal of those who follow unrighteous paths,
यथा परिणतं सस्यं पतेत्प्रसवबंधनात्
Just as ripened grain falls from the bond of its stalk,
ये च त्वामवमन्यंते दर्पिताः स्वतपोबलैः
And those who, proud of their own strength, disrespect you,
उपपातकिनो ये च महापातकिनश्च ये 4.1.26.
Those who commit minor offenses, and those who commit great sins,
विष्णोऽविमुक्ते संवासः कर्मनिर्मूलनक्षमः 4.1.26.
Dwelling in Viṣṇu's Avimukta is capable of uprooting karma.
अश्रद्धयापि यः स्नातो मणिकर्ण्यां विधानतः 4.1.26.
Even one who bathes at Maṇikarṇikā according to the prescribed rite, without faith,
योसौ विश्वेश्वरो देवः काशीपुर्यामुमे स्थितः 4.1.26.
That god, the lord of the universe, who resides in Kāśī city,
बहूपसर्गो योगोयं कृच्छ्रसाध्यं तपो हि यत् 4.1.26.
This yoga, beset with many obstacles, and the austerity which is difficult to accomplish,
व्यास उवाच सर्वपापप्रशमनीं पुनः स्कंद उवाच ह ।। 4.1.26.
Vyāsa said: Again Skanda spoke of that which removes all sins.
स्कंद उवाच तथा च कथयामीह देवदेवेनभाषितम्
Skanda said: Thus I shall now relate what was spoken by the god of gods.
प्राप्तं वाराणसीत्याख्यामविमुक्तं यथा तथा
How Avimukta, called Vārāṇasī, was attained, just so.