लिंगं समर्चितं दृष्ट्वा यः कुर्यात्प्रणतिं सकृत्
Whoever, seeing the liṅga duly worshipped, offers even a single obeisance,
लिंगं यः स्थापयेद्भक्त्या सप्तजन्मकृतादघात्
Whoever installs the liṅga with devotion is freed from sins accumulated over seven births.
विचार्येति गणैः काश्यां स्वामिद्रोहोपशांतये
Thus, considering with the Gaṇas in Kāśī, for the pacification of betrayal against the Lord,
कुंडोदरेश्वरं लिंगं दृष्ट्वा लोलार्कसन्निधौ
Seeing the liṅga of Kuṇḍodareśvara in the presence of the restless sun,
कुंडोदरेश्वराल्लिंगात्प्रतीच्यामसिरोधसि
From the liṅga of Kuṇḍodareśvara, to the west, at the top of the head,
मयूरेशप्रतीच्यां च लिंगं बाणेश्वरं महत् 4.2.53.
And to the west of Mayūreśa, the great liṅga called Bāṇeśvara,
गोकर्णेशं महालिंगमंतर्गेहस्य पश्चिमे
The great liṅga Gokarṇeśa is within the house, to the west.
गोकर्णेश्वर भक्तस्य पंचत्व समये सति
For the devotee of Gokarṇeśvara, at the time of death,
महिमानं महत्त्वं तु तत्काश्याः पर्यवर्णयत्
Its greatness and majesty were described as belonging to Kāśī.
वैष्णव्या मायया विश्वं भ्राम्येतात्र ययाखिलम्
By the Māyā of Viṣṇu, the whole universe is made to revolve here by which all is moved.
अपास्य सोदरान्दारान्पुत्रं क्षेत्रं गृहं वसु
Having abandoned brothers, wives, sons, land, house, and wealth,
मरणादपि नो काश्यां भयं यत्र मनागपि
There is not the slightest fear of death in Kāśī.
मरणं मंगलं यत्र विभूतिर्यत्र भूषणम्
Where death is auspicious, and glory itself is an ornament,
निर्वाणरमणी यत्र रंकं वाऽरंकमेव वा
Where liberation is delightful, whether for a pauper or even for a great pauper.
मृतानां यत्र जंतूनां निर्वाणपदमृच्छताम्
Where the beings who have died attain the state of liberation,
यत्र काश्यां मृतो जंतुर्ब्रह्मनारायणादिभिः 4.2.53.
Where, in Kāśī, a being who dies is accompanied by Brahma, Nārāyaṇa, and others,
यत्र काश्यां शवत्वेपि जंतुर्नाशुचितां व्रजेत्
Where, in Kāśī, even in the state of a corpse, a being does not fall into impurity,
यस्तु काशीति काशीति द्विस्त्रिर्जपति पुण्यवान्
He who recites 'Kāśī, Kāśī' two or three times, being virtuous,
येन काशी हृदि ध्याता येन काशीह सेविता
By whom Kāśī has been meditated upon in the heart, by whom Kāśī has been served here,
काशीं यः सेवते जंतुर्निर्विकल्पेन चेतसा
The being who serves Kāśī with undistracted mind,
स्वयं वस्तुमशक्तोपि वासयेत्तीर्थवासिनम्
Even if he is himself unable to reside, he should cause a resident of the holy place to dwell,
काश्यां वसंति ये धीरा आपंचत्व विनिश्चयाः
Those steadfast ones who dwell in Kāśī, certain of the approach of death,
इत्थं विमृश्य बहुशः स्थाणुर्वाराणसीगुणान्
Thus, having reflected many times on the virtues of Vārāṇasī, Sthāṇu (Śiva),
तारकत्वं समागच्छ गच्छाति स्वच्छमानस
Attains the state of deliverance, departing with a pure mind,
तिलपर्ण स्धूलकर्ण दृमिचंड प्रभामय
Tilaparṇa, Dhūlakarṇa, Dṛmicaṇḍa, radiant in glory,
वीरभद्र किराताख्य चतुर्मुख निकुंभक 4.2.53.
Vīrabhadra, called Kirāta, Caturmukha, Nikuṃbhaka,
नाद्रीणां न समुद्राणां न द्रुमाणां महीयसाम् 4.2.53.
Not of mountains, nor of oceans, nor of the greatest trees,
तारकेशं महालिंगं तारकाख्यो गणोत्तमः 4.2.53.
Tārakeśa, the great liṅga, and Tāraka, the foremost among the Gaṇas,
स्कंद उवाच कुंभसंभव वक्ष्यामि शृणोत्ववहितो भवान्
Skanda said: O son of Kumbha, I shall tell you; let your attention be focused.
कपर्दी नाम गणपः शंभोरत्यंतवल्लभः
Kapardī is the name of a Gaṇapa, exceedingly dear to Śambhu (Śiva).