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.
निर्दग्धान्सागराञ्छ्रुत्वा कपिलक्रोधवह्निना
Having heard that the oceans were burned up by Kapila's fire of wrath,
सूर्यवंशे महातेजा राजा परमधार्मिकः
In the solar dynasty, a king of great splendor, supremely righteous,
हिमवंतं नगश्रेष्ठममात्य न्यस्तराज्यधूः
He entrusted the royal duties to his ministers and went to Himavat, the foremost mountain.
ब्रह्मशापाग्निनिर्दग्धान्महादुर्गतिगानपि
Even those who had fallen into great misfortune, burned by the fire of Brahmā's curse,
ममैव सा परामूर्तिस्तोयरूपा शिवात्मिका
She is indeed my supreme form, of the nature of water, embodying auspiciousness.
शुद्धविद्यास्वरूपा च त्रिशक्तिः करुणात्मिका
She is the very essence of pure knowledge, the triple power, and compassion itself.
यामेतां जगतां धात्रीं धारयामि स्वलीलया
It is this sustainer of the worlds whom I uphold by my own play.
त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यक्षेत्राणि यानि च 4.1.27.
All the sacred bathing places and holy fields in the three worlds,
तपांसि विष्णो सर्वाणि श्रुतिः सांगा चतुर्विधा
All the austerities, O Viṣṇu, and the fourfold Veda with its limbs,
पुरुषार्थाश्च सर्वे वै शक्तयो विविधाश्च याः
All the aims of human life and the various powers that exist,