न जीयते तथा कालस्तपसा योगयुक्तिभिः
Time cannot be overcome by austerity or by yogic practices.
विनायज्ञैर्विनादानैर्विना व्रतजपादिभिः
Not by sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by vows and recitations.
काशीप्राप्तिरयं योगःकाथीप्राप्तिरिदं तपः
To reach Kāśī is yoga; to reach Kāṭhī is austerity.
कः कलिकोथवा कालः का जरा किं च दुष्कृतम्
What is the fault of Kali, what is time, what is old age, and what is evil deed?
कलिस्तानेव बाधेत कालस्तांश्च जिघांसति
In Kashi alone, Kali afflicts, and Time seeks to destroy them.
एनांसि तांश्च बाधंते ये न काशीं समाश्रिताः तारकं ज्ञानमासाद्य ते मुक्ताः कर्मपाशतः
Sins and afflictions trouble those who have not taken refuge in Kashi; but those who attain the liberating knowledge become freed from the bonds of karma.
धनिनो न तथा सौख्यं प्राप्नुवंति नराः क्वचित्
Men possessing wealth never truly attain happiness anywhere.
वरं काशीसमावासी नासीनो द्युसदां पदम्
It is better to dwell in Kashi than to sit in the abode of the gods.
स्थितोपि भगवनीशो मंदरं चारुकंदरम् 4.1.42.
Even the blessed Lord remained on the beautiful Mandara mountain.
काशीं संत्याजयामास कथमागाच्च मंदरात्
He caused Kashi to be abandoned—how did he come from Mandara?
तपसा तस्य संतुष्टो मंदरस्यैव भूभृतः
By the austerity of Mandara's lord, the Lord was satisfied.
गते विश्वेश्वरे देवे मंदरं गिरिसुंदरम्
When Lord Vishveshvara departed, Mandara, the lovely mountain, remained.
क्षेत्राणि वैष्णवानीह त्यक्त्वा विष्णुरपि क्षितेः
Even Vishnu abandoned the Vaishnava sacred places of the earth.
स्थानानि गाणपत्यानि गणेशोपि ततो व्रजत्
Then Ganesha also left the places belonging to the Ganas.
सूरः सौराणि संत्यज्य गतश्चायतनादरम्
Surya, forsaking the Saura shrines, departed from his own abode.
गतेषु देवसंघेषु पृथिव्याः पृथिवीपतिः
When the assembly of gods had departed, the lord of the earth—
विधाय राजधानीं स वाराणस्यां सुनिश्चलाम्
—established a steadfast capital at Varanasi.
सूर्यवत्स प्रतपिता दुर्हृदां हृदि नेत्रयोः
Like the sun, he scorched the hearts and eyes of the wicked.
अखंडमाखंडलवत्कोदंडकलयन्रणे 4.1.43.
Unbroken, like Akhandala, wielding a curved bow in battle.
स धर्मराजवज्जातो धर्माधर्मविवेचकः
He was born like a king of righteousness, discerning between right and wrong.
धनंजय इवाधाक्षीत्परारण्यान्यनेकशः
Like Dhananjaya, he subdued many foreign lands.
सोभूत्पुण्यजनाधीशो रिपुराक्षसवर्धनः
He became lord of the virtuous, a foe to the enhancers of demons.
राजराजः स एवाभूत्सर्वेषां धनदः सताम्
He alone became the king of kings, the giver of wealth to all the virtuous.
विश्वेषां स हि देवानां तपसा रूपधृग्यतः
Indeed, by his austerity, he assumed forms for all the gods.
असाध्यः स हि साध्यानां वसुभ्यो वसुनाधिकः
He is unattainable even for the Sādhyas, and surpasses the Vasus in wealth.
मरुद्गणानगणयंस्तुषितांस्तोषयन्गुणैः
He did not count the hosts of Maruts, and pleased the Tuṣitas with his virtues.
अगर्वानेव गंधर्वान्यश्चक्रे निजगीतिभिः
Without pride, he captivated the Gandharvas with his own songs.
नागानागांसि चक्रुश्च तस्य नागबलीयसः
The Nāgas, though powerful, became subordinate to him.
जाता गुह्यचरा यस्य गुह्यकाः परितो नृषु 4.1.43.
The Guhyakas, who move secretly, were born around him among men.
वयं यतस्त्वद्विषये सुरावासोऽपि दुर्लभः आशुगश्चाशुगामित्वं पावमाने पथिस्थितः
Because of you, even the abode of the gods is hard to attain in your realm; and swift is the one who stands on the path of Pavamāna.