विश्वेश्वरि त्वमसि विश्वजनस्य कर्त्री त्वं पालयित्र्यसि तथा प्रलयेपिहंत्री
O Lady of the universe, you are the creator of all beings, you are their protector, and at dissolution, their destroyer.
मातर्भवानि भवती भवतीव्रदुःखसंभारहारिणि शरण्यमिहास्ति नान्या
Mother Bhavānī, you are the remover of the heavy burden of intense suffering; there is no other refuge here.
ये त्वा स्मरंति सततं सहजप्रकाशां काशीपुरीस्थितिमतीं नतमोक्षलक्ष्मीम्
Those who constantly remember you, the innate radiance, the steadfast city of Kāśī, the abode of liberation for the bowed—
मातस्तवांघ्रियुगलं विमलं हृदिस्थं यस्यास्ति तस्य भुवनं सकलं करस्थम् 4.1.49.
Mother, for the one whose heart holds your pair of pure feet, the entire world rests in his hand.
त्वं देवि वेदजननी प्रणवस्वरूपा गायत्र्यसि त्वमसि वै द्विजकामधेनुः
You are the goddess, mother of the Vedas, embodiment of the sacred syllable Om; you are Gāyatrī, truly the wish-fulfilling cow for the twice-born.
गौरि त्वमेव शशिमौलिनि वेधसि त्वं सावित्र्यसि त्वमसि चक्रिणि चारुलक्ष्मीः
You are Gaurī, indeed, in the creator with the crescent moon; you are Sāvitrī, and you are the beautiful Lakṣmī in the wielder of the discus.
स्तुत्वेति तां स्मरहरार्धशरीरशोभां श्रीमंगलाष्टक महास्तवनेन भानुः
Thus, having praised her, who shines as half the body of the destroyer of desire, with the great hymn of eight auspicious verses, the Sun—
मित्रमन्नेत्रगो नित्यं प्रपश्ये तच्चराचरम्
I, Mitra, ever see with my eye all that moves and does not move.
मम मूर्तिर्भवान्सूर्य सर्वज्ञो भव सर्वगः
You, O Sun, are my form; be all-knowing, be all-pervading.
सर्वेषां सर्वदुःखानि भक्तानां त्वं निराकुरु
Remove all sufferings of all devotees.
अनेन मां परिष्टुत्य नरो मद्भक्तिमाप्स्यति
By praising me with this, a man will obtain devotion to me.
अनेन मंगलागौरीं स्तुत्वा मंगलमाप्स्यति
By praising Auspicious Gaurī with this, he will obtain auspiciousness.
एतत्स्तोत्रवरं पुण्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम्
This excellent hymn is meritorious, destroying all sins.
त्रिसंध्यं परिशुद्धात्मा काशीं प्राप्स्यति दुर्लभाम् 4.1.49.
One whose mind is pure, reciting at the three junctions of the day, will attain Kāśī, difficult to reach.
ध्रुवदैनंदिनं पापं क्षालितं नात्र संशयः
Certainly, daily sin is washed away for him—there is no doubt of this.
त्रिकालं योजयेन्नित्यमेतत्स्तोत्रद्वयंशुभम्
One should always recite these two auspicious hymns three times a day.
एतत्स्तोत्रद्वयं दद्यात्काश्यां नैःश्रेयसीं श्रियम्
These two hymns grant supreme fortune in Kāśī.
एतत्स्तोत्रद्वयं जप्यं त्यक्त्वा स्तोत्राण्यनेकशः
These two hymns are to be recited, abandoning the many other hymns.
तदावयोःस्तवादस्मान्निष्प्रपंचो जनो भवेत्
Then, by our praise, people become free from worldly existence.
अंते निर्वाणमाप्नोति जपन्स्तोत्रमिदं नरः
At the end, a man who recites this hymn attains liberation.
त्वया प्रतिष्ठितं लिंगं गभस्तीश्वरसंज्ञितम्
The liṅga established by you shall be known as Gabhastīśvara.
त्वया गभस्तिमालाभिश्चांपेयांबुजकांतिभिः
By you, with garlands of rays, shining with the radiance of yellow lotuses,
गभस्तीश्वर इत्याख्यां ततो लिंगमवाप्स्यति
Therefore, that liṅga will receive the name Gabhastīśvara.
न जातु जायते मातुर्जठरे धूतकल्मषः 4.1.49.
One whose sins are washed away is never born in the womb of a mother.
चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायामुपोषणपरायणः
On the third day of the bright half of Caitra, being devoted to fasting,
रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा गीतनृत्यकथादिभिः
Staying awake at night, with singing, dancing, storytelling, and the like,
संभोज्यपरमान्नाद्यैर्दत्त्वान्येभ्योपि दक्षिणाम्
After offering sumptuous food and the best dishes, and giving gifts to others as well,
अष्टोत्तरशताभिश्च तिलाज्याहुतिभिः प्रगे
And in the morning, with one hundred and eight oblations of sesame and ghee,
श्रद्धया समलंकृत्य भूषणैर्द्विजदंपती
With faith, adorning a pair of Brāhmaṇas with ornaments,
इति मंत्रं समुच्चार्य प्रातः कृत्वाथ पारणम्
Reciting this mantra, and then breaking the fast in the morning,