काशीप्रवृत्तिं नो जाने दिवोदासनृपस्य च
I do not know the affairs of Kashi, nor of King Divodasa.
शंकुकर्णमहाकालौ कालस्यापि प्रकंपनौ
Shankukarṇa and Mahakala, who even shake the realm of Time.
कृतप्रतिज्ञौ तो(?) तूर्णं प्राप्य वाराणसीं पुरीम्
Having made their vow, they swiftly reached the city of Varanasi.
यथैंद्रजालिकीं दृष्ट्वा मायामिह विचक्षणः
There, seeing the illusion like Indra’s magic, the wise one reflected on the maya here.
अहो मोहस्य माहात्म्यमहो भाग्यविपर्ययः
Ah, the greatness of delusion! Ah, the reversal of fortune!
तत्यजे यैरियं काशी महाशीर्वादभूभिका
By whom this Kashi, the land of great blessings, was abandoned—
यत्र सर्वावभृथतः स्नानमात्रं विशिष्यते 4.2.53.
Where even a single bath surpasses all other purificatory baths.
यत्रैकपुष्पदानेन शिवलिंगस्य मूर्धनि
Where, by offering a single flower on the head of the Shiva-linga—
यत्र दंडप्रणामेन अप्येकेन शिवाग्रतः
Where, by a single prostration with a staff before Shiva—
यत्रैकद्विजमात्रं तु भोजयित्वा यथेच्छया
Where, by feeding even a single twice-born as one wishes—
एकां गां यत्र दत्त्वा वै विधिवद्ब्राह्मणाय वै
Where, by giving just one cow properly to a Brahmin—
एकलिंगं प्रतिष्ठाप्य यत्र संस्थापितं भवेत्
Where, by establishing a single linga, it is considered as installed—
परिनिश्चित्य तावित्थं लिंगे संस्थाप्य पुण्यदे
Having fully determined thus, one should establish the linga, bestower of merit.
शंकुकर्णेश्वरं लिंगं शंकुकर्ण ग णार्चितम्
The Shankukarṇeshvara linga was worshipped by the group of Shankukarṇa.
विश्वेशाद्वायुदिग्भागे शंकुकर्णेश्वरं नरः
In the direction of Vayu from Vishveshvara, a man should worship Shankukarṇeshvara.
महाकालेश्वरं लिंगं महाकालगणार्चितम्
The Mahakaleshvara linga was worshipped by the group of Mahakala.
ज्ञात्वा सर्वज्ञनाथोथ प्राहैपीदपरौ गणौ ।। 4.2.53.
Knowing this, the lord of all knowledge then addressed the other two groups.
घंटाकर्ण त्वमागच्छ महोदर महामते
"Ghantakarna, you come! Mahodara, great-minded one!"
इत्यगस्ते गणौ तौ तु गत्वा काशीं महापुरीम्
Thus Agastya, and those two groups, went to the great city of Kashi.
घंटाकर्णेश्वरं लिंगं घंटाकर्ण गणोत्तमः
The Ghantakarṇeshvara linga was worshipped by Ghantakarṇa, the foremost of the groups.
कुंडं तत्रैव संस्थाप्य लिंगस्नपनकर्मणे
There, a water vessel is to be established for the ritual bathing of the linga.
महोदरोपि तत्प्राच्यां शिवध्यानपरायणः
In the east of that place, Mahodara, devoted to meditation on Shiva, is present.
महोदरेश्वरं दृष्ट्वा वाराणस्यां द्विजोत्तम
Having seen Mahodareśvara in Varanasi, O best of twice-born,
घंटाकर्ण ह्रदे स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा व्यासेश्वरं विभुम्
After bathing in the Ghantakarna lake and beholding Vyaseshvara, the Lord,
घंटाकर्णे महातीर्थे श्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानतः
By performing the śrāddha rite properly at the great tirtha of Ghantakarna,
निमज्ज्याद्यापि तत्कुंडे क्षण योवहितो भवेत्
Even now, whoever immerses himself attentively in that tank, even for a moment,
वदंति पितरः काश्यां घंटाकर्णेमलेजले 4.2.53.
The ancestors say, 'In Kashi, in the pure waters of Ghantakarna—'
यद्वंश्या मुनयः काश्यां घंटाकर्णे महाह्रदे
The sages of your lineage, in Kashi, at the great lake of Ghantakarna,
विसिस्माय स्मरद्वेष्टा मौलिमांदोलयन्मुहुः
The destroyer of desire stood amazed, repeatedly shaking his crowned head.
उवाच च मनस्येव हरः स्मित्वा पुनःपुनः
And Hara, smiling again and again, spoke in his mind: