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).
कुंडं चखान तस्याग्रे विमलोदक संज्ञकम्
He dug a pond before him, called by the name of Vimalodaka.
इतिहासं प्रवक्ष्यामि तत्र त्रेतायुगे पुरा
I shall relate the ancient story that took place there in the Tretā age.
एकः पाशुपत श्रेष्ठो वाल्मीकिरिति संज्ञितः
There was one foremost among the Pāśupatas, known by the name Vālmīki.
एकदा स हि हेमंते मार्गे मासि तपोधनः
Once, in the winter season, during the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, that ascetic practiced austerities.
चकार भस्मना स्नानमापादतलमस्तकम्
He performed a bath with ashes, from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
न्यस्तमस्तकपांसुश्च संध्यामाध्यात्मिकीं स्मरन्
With his head bowed to the ground, he recollected the spiritual twilight meditation.
कृत्वा संहारमार्गेण सप्रमाणं प्रदक्षिणाम्
He circumambulated, in the prescribed manner, along the path of dissolution.
प्रणवं पुरतः कृत्वा षड्जादिस्वरभेदतः 4.2.54.
He placed the sacred syllable Om before him, distinguishing the notes from Ṣaḍja onward.
अंगहारैर्मनोहारि चारी मंडलसंयुतम्
With captivating gestures, graceful movements, and accompanied by circular steps.
अद्राक्षीद्राक्षसं घोरमतीव विकृताकृतिम्
He beheld a terrible Rākṣasa, exceedingly deformed in appearance.