कृतानि यानि पापानि नरैः संवत्सरावधि
Whatever sins have been committed by men over the course of a year—
नरः स्नात्वासिसंभेदे संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः
A man, after bathing at the meeting of the swords and offering libations to ancestors and deities—
लोलार्कसंगमे स्नात्वा दानं होमं सुरार्चनम्
Having bathed at the confluence of Lolārka, giving gifts, performing oblations, and worshipping the gods—
सूर्योपरागे लोलार्के स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः
At the eclipse of the Sun at Lolārka, acts such as bathing and giving gifts—
लोलार्के रथसप्तम्यां स्नात्वा गंगासिसंगमे
Bathing at Lolārka on the Rathasaptamī, at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the swords—
प्रत्यर्कवारं लोलार्कं यः पश्यति शुचिव्रतः
Whoever, observing pure vows, beholds Lolārka on every Sunday—
न तस्य दुःखं नो पामा न दद्रुर्न विचर्चिका
For him there is no suffering, nor skin disease, nor leprosy, nor eczema.
वाराणस्यामुषित्वापि यो लोलार्कं न सेवते
Even one who dwells in Vārāṇasī but does not serve Lolārka—
सर्वेषां काशितीर्थानां लोलार्कः प्रथमं शिरः
Among all the sacred places of Kāśī, Lolārka is foremost.
तीर्थांतराणि सर्वाणि भूमीवलयगान्यपि 4.1.46.
All other sacred places, even those encircling the earth—
सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानां स्नानाद्यल्लभ्यते फलम्
The fruit obtained from bathing and other rites at all sacred places—
नार्थवादोयमुदितः स्तुतिवादो न वै मुने
This is not mere praise or exaggeration, O sage.
यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षाद्यत्र स्वर्गतरंगिणी
Where the Lord of all, Viśveśvara, is directly present, and where the heavenly river flows—
उदाहरंति ये मूढाः कुतर्कबलदर्पिताः
Those fools, puffed up by the force of false reasoning, who cite examples—
कस्यचित्काशितीर्थस्य महिम्नो महतस्तुलाम्
—of the greatness of some other holy place, to compare with the immense glory of Kāśī—
नास्तिका वेदबाह्याश्च शिश्नोदरपरायणाः
Are atheists, outsiders to the Veda, devoted only to the pursuits of the senses and the belly.
लोलार्ककरनिष्टप्ता असिधार विखंडिताः
Burned by the fierce rays of the sun, cut by the edge of a sword—
महिमानमिमं श्रुत्वा लोलार्कस्य नरोत्तमः
Hearing this greatness of the fierce sun, O best of men—
तत्र नाम्नोत्तरार्केण रश्मिमाली व्यवस्थितः
There, by the name Uttarārka, the radiant one is established.
तापयन्दुःखसंघातं साधूनाप्याययन्रविः
The sun, bringing together the mass of suffering from heat, also nourished the virtuous.
तत्रेतिहासो यो वृत्तस्तं निशामय सुव्रत
Now, listen attentively, O virtuous one, to the ancient tale that happened there.
आसीत्काश्यां शुभाचारः सदातिथिजनप्रियः
There was in Kāśī a man of good conduct, always dear to guests and people.
भर्तृशुश्रूषणरता गृहकर्मसुपेशला
His wife was devoted to serving her husband, skilled in household duties.
मूलर्क्षप्रथमेपादे तथा केंद्रे बृहस्पतौ
When the first foot of the root sign arose, and Jupiter was in the center—
सुरूपा विनयाचारा पित्रोश्च प्रियकारिणी
She was beautiful, modest in conduct, and did what pleased her parents.
यथायथा समैधिष्ट सा कन्या पितृमंदिरे
As time went by, that maiden matured in her father's house.
कस्मै देया वरा कन्या सुरम्येयं सुलक्षणा
To whom should this excellent, well-featured maiden be given as a bride?
कुलेन वयसा चापि शीलेनापि श्रुतेन च 4.1.47.
Considering family, age, character, and learning—
इति चिंतयतस्तस्य ज्वरोभूदतिदारुणः
As he pondered thus, a most terrible fever afflicted him.
तन्मूलर्क्षविपाकेन चिंताख्येन ज्वरेण च
From the ripening of that root sign and from the fever called anxiety—