परातनुरियं काशी विश्वेशस्येति निश्चितम्
It is certain that this Kāśī is the supreme body of Viśveśvara.
कः प्राप्य काशीं दुर्मेधाः पुनस्त्यक्तुमिहेह ते
Who, having attained Kāśī, O dull-minded one, would wish to abandon it here?
विश्वसंतापसंहर्तुः स्थाने विश्वपतेस्तनुः
This is the abode of the Lord of the Universe, the form that removes all suffering.
प्राप्य काशीं त्यजेद्यस्तु समस्ताघौघनाशिनीम्
Whoever, having reached Kāśī—which destroys all heaps of sin—should abandon it,
निर्वाणलक्ष्मीं यः कांक्षेत्त्यक्त्वा संसारदुर्गतिम्
He who, desiring the fortune of liberation, abandons the difficult path of saṃsāra—
यः काशीं संपरित्यज्य गच्छेदन्यत्र दुर्मतिः
He who, having completely abandoned Kāśī, goes elsewhere is truly of misguided mind.
निबर्हणी मधौघस्य सुपुण्य परिबृंहिणीम् 4.2.52.
It is the remover of the flood of delusion, greatly meritorious, and bestows abundant increase.
सत्यलोके क्व तत्सौख्यं क्व सौख्यं वैष्णवे पदे
In the world of truth, where is that happiness, and where is the happiness in the abode of Vishnu?
वाराणसीगुणगणान्निर्णीय द्रुहिणस्त्विति
Having discerned the multitude of virtues in Varanasi, Brahma thus declared.
दशाश्वमेधिकं प्राप्य सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्
Having attained the merit equal to ten Ashvamedha sacrifices, and the highest among all sacred fords,
स्नानं दानं जपो होमः स्वाध्यायो दे वतार्चनम्
Bathing, giving gifts, recitation, oblation, self-study, and worship of the deities—
दृष्ट्वा दशाश्वमेधेशं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Seeing the Lord of the Ten Ashvamedhas, one is freed from all sins.
ज्येष्ठे मासि सिते पक्षे प्राप्य प्रतिपदं तिथिम्
In the month of Jyeshtha, during the bright fortnight, upon reaching the first lunar day,
ज्येष्ठे शुक्ल द्वितीयायां स्नात्वा रुद्रसरोवरे
In Jyeshtha, on the second day of the bright fortnight, having bathed in the lake of Rudra,
एवं सर्वासु तिथिषु क्रमस्नायी नरोत्तमः
Thus, on all lunar days, the best of men who bathes in order—
तिथिं दशहरां प्राप्य दशजन्माघहारिणीम् 4.2.52.
Upon reaching the Dashahara tithi, which destroys the sins of ten births,
लिंगं दशाश्वमेधेशं दृष्ट्वा दशहरा तिथौ
Seeing the linga of the Lord of the Ten Ashvamedhas on the Dashahara tithi,
स्नातो दशहरायां यः पूजयेल्लिंगमुत्तमम्
Whoever, having bathed on Dashahara, worships the supreme linga,
ज्येष्ठे मासि सिते पक्षे पक्षं रुद्रसरे नरः
In the month of Jyeshtha, during the bright fortnight, a man who bathes for the fortnight in Rudra's lake,
दशाश्वमेधावभृथैर्यत्फलं सम्यगाप्यते
The fruit that is fully obtained from the concluding bath of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices,
स्वर्धुन्याः पश्चिमे तीरे नत्वा दशहरेश्वरम्
On the western bank of the celestial Ganga, bowing to the Lord of Dashahara,
यत्काश्यां दक्षिणद्वारमंतर्गेहस्य कीर्त्यते
That which is renowned as the southern gate within a house in Kashi,
इति ब्राह्मणवेषेण वाराणस्यां महाधिया
Thus, in the guise of a Brahmin, with great wisdom, in Varanasi,
दिवोदासोपि राजेंद्रो वृद्धब्राह्मणरूपिणे
Even King Divodasa took the form of an aged Brahmin.
ब्रह्मेश्वरसमीपे तु ब्रह्मशाला मनोहरा
Near Brahma and Ishvara stands the delightful hall of Brahma.
इति ते कथितो ब्रह्मन्महिमातिमहत्तरः 4.2.52.
Thus, O Brahman, I have told you of the exceedingly great glory.
श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं श्रावयित्वा तथैव च
By hearing and reciting this sacred chapter, likewise,
किं चकार पुनः शंभुस्तत्र ब्रह्मण्यपि स्थिते
What did Shambhu do again there, while Brahma was present?
शृण्वगस्त्य महाभाग काश्यां ब्रह्मण्यपिस्थिते
Hear, O Agastya, most fortunate one, while Brahma remained in Kashi.
पुरी सा यादृशी काशी वशीकरणभूमिका
That city, Kashi, is such as the ground of enchantment.