इतिवादिनमत्यंतं दीनमेव दयानिधिः
Speaking thus, extremely humble, the ocean of mercy,
ताः सर्वाः सर्वजंतूनामत्यर्थं परिकल्पिताः
All those are arranged exceedingly for all creatures.
पुरा पुरंदरस्त्वं हि कैलासशिखरे स्थितम्
Once, O Purandara, you dwelt atop the peak of Kailāsa,
क्षणं गलितगर्वस्त्वं स्तंभना व्रीडितस्तदा
For a moment, your pride slipped away, and you were abashed by restraint.
आदिष्टस्त्वं मया वज्रिन्नवतीर्यावनिं भवान्
O wielder of the thunderbolt, you were instructed by me to descend to earth.
जातं ततः प्रभावेण क्षेत्रमेतन्मदास्पदम्
Then, by that power, this field became my abode.
अधुनातिसपर्याभिस्त्वत्कृताभिरहर्निशम्
Now, through your constant worship day and night,
खं वायुरनलो वारि भूः सूर्य शशिनौ पुमान्
The sky, wind, fire, water, earth, sun, moon, and man,
कालो हि कालयाम्यर्थान्सत्त्वानध्वन एव च 1.3.2.24.
Time indeed transforms beings, objects, and even the path itself.
अपर्यंतचिदानंदसिंधोर्मे केचिदूर्मयः
Some waves arise from my boundless ocean of consciousness and bliss.
वाणीलक्ष्मीक्षमाश्रद्धाप्रज्ञास्वाहास्वधादयः
Speech, fortune, patience, faith, wisdom, Svāhā, Svadhā, and others,
इयं मम महाशक्तिर्गौरी माया जगत्प्रसूः
This is my great power: Gaurī, the illusion, the mother of the world.
शक्त्यानयान्वितः सर्गरक्षासंहृतिविभ्रमः
Endowed with this power, creation, preservation, dissolution, and movement occur.
अपवाहितमोहस्त्वं महिमा मे विचारय
Freed from delusion, consider my greatness.
ततो मद्रूपशालिन्या आधिपत्यं क्षितेर्गतः
Then, endowed with my form, he attained sovereignty over the earth.
पुनः पुरंदरत्वेन भुक्तदिव्यसुखश्चिरम्
Again, as Purandara, he enjoyed divine pleasures for a long time.
नंदिकेश्वर उवाच इत्युक्त्वांतर्हिते देवे राजा वज्रांगदः कृती
Nandikeśvara said: Having spoken thus, the god vanished; the king Vajrāṅgada, accomplished, remained.
इत्थं ते कथितं साधो शिवभक्तविजृंभणम्
Thus, O holy one, I have told you the flourishing of devotion to Śiva.
किं वाचां विस्तरेणात्र शोणशैलप्रदक्षिणा 1.3.2.24.
What need is there for lengthy words here? Circumambulation of Śoṇa mountain suffices.
विषुवायनसंक्राति व्यतीपातादिपर्वसु
During the solstice, equinox, and other auspicious occasions,
न क्षेत्रमरुणादस्ति नास्ति देवोऽरुणेश्वरात्
There is no sacred place greater than Aruṇa, nor any deity superior to Aruṇeśvara.
इति कथयति नंदिकेश्वरेस्मिन्पुलकितसर्ववपुर्मृकण्डुपुत्रः
As Nandikeśvara spoke thus, the son of Mṛkaṇḍu was filled with delight throughout his body.
अथ तृतीयमर्बुदखण्डं प्रारभ्यते व्यास उवाच ॐनमोनंताय सूक्ष्माय ज्ञानगम्याय वेधसे
Now begins the third section, Arbuda-khaṇḍa. Vyāsa said: Om, homage to the infinite, the subtle, the one approached through knowledge, the creator.
मन्वंतराणि सर्वाणि सृष्टिश्चैव पृथग्विधा
All the Manvantaras and the various kinds of creation,
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामस्तीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Now we wish to hear the supreme glory of the holy places.
तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्द्धकोटिश्च तेषां संख्या कृता पुरा
Three crores and a half crore—such was their number in ancient times.
क्षेत्राणि सरितश्चैव पर्वताश्च नदा स्तथा
Sacred fields, rivers, mountains, and streams likewise,
तेषां मध्येऽर्बुदोनाम सर्वपापहरोऽनघः
Among them, Arbuda is named, O sinless one, the remover of all sins.
पुनंति सर्वतीर्थानि स्नानदानादिकैर्यथा
All holy places purify through bathing, giving, and other rites, as is proper.
कथं वासिष्ठमाहात्म्यात्प्रथितो धरणीतले
How did the glory of Vasiṣṭha become renowned upon the earth?