यच्चैतच्छिखरे ह्यस्मिन्निर्झरं निर्मलोदकम्
And this pure stream of water that flows on this very peak—
अत्रैवाहं वसिष्यामि मित्रस्नेहात्सदा मुने 7.3.3.
Here itself I shall reside always, O sage, out of friendship and affection.
अपि वंध्या च या नारी स्नानमात्रं समाचरेत्
Even a barren woman who merely bathes here—
सापि पुत्रमवाप्नोति सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्
She too obtains a son endowed with all auspicious marks.
नभसः शुक्लपंचम्यां फलैः पूजां करोति च
On the bright fifth day of the lunar fortnight, if one performs worship here with fruits—
येऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यंति ह्यस्मिंस्तीर्थे च भक्तितः
Those who bathe here at this holy place with devotion—
श्राद्धं चात्र करिष्यंति पंचम्यां ये समाहिताः
And those who perform śrāddha here on the fifth day with concentration—
नंदिवर्द्धनमभ्येत्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Approaching Nandivardhana, he spoke these words—
वरं च व्रियतां वत्स परितुष्टोऽस्मि तेऽनघ
Choose a boon, child; I am pleased with you, O sinless one.
सांनिध्यं जायतामत्र अवश्यं तव सर्वदा
May your presence here always remain, without fail.
यथाहमर्बुदेत्येवं ख्यातिं गच्छामि भूतले
Just as I am known as Arbuda, so may I attain fame on earth.
चक्रे स्वमाश्रमं तत्र तस्य वाक्येन नोदितः ॥ 7.3.3.
There, at his command, he established his own hermitage.
पनसैश्चंपकैराम्रैः प्रियंगुबिल्वदाडिमैः
With jackfruit, campaka, mango, priyangu, bilva, and pomegranate trees—
तस्थौ तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठो ह्यरुंधत्या समन्वितः
There stood the best of sages, together with Arundhati.
यस्यां स्नात्वा दिवं यांति अतिपापकृतो नराः
By bathing there, even men who have committed great sins ascend to heaven.
येत्र स्नानं करिष्यंति ते यास्यंति परां गतिम्
Those who bathe here shall attain the highest state.
माघमासे विशेषेण तिलदानं करोति यः
Whoever gives sesame here, especially in the month of Māgha—
बहुना किमिहोक्तेन स्तानमात्रं समाचरेत्
What need is there to say much? One should simply perform the bath here.
वसिष्ठस्य मुखं दृष्ट्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
Upon seeing the face of Vasiṣṭha, there is no further rebirth.
सूत उवाच स कृत्वा स्वाश्रमं तत्र वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः
Sūta said: Having established his own hermitage there, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha—
स बभूव मुनिः सम्यक्फलाहारसमन्वितः
That sage lived there, wholly devoted, sustained by fruits.
जलाहारः पञ्चशतवर्षाणि संबभूव ह
He subsisted on water alone for five hundred years.
पञ्चाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे हेमन्ते सलिलाशयः
He practiced the five-fire austerity in summer, and in winter dwelled in water.
ततस्तुष्टो महादेवस्तस्यर्षेः सुमहात्मनः तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टो मुनिः स्तोत्रमुदैरयत्
Then, Mahādeva was pleased with that great-souled sage; seeing him, the sage, filled with wonder, began a hymn.
नमः शिवाय शुद्धाय सर्वगायाऽमृताय च
Salutations to Śiva, the pure one, the all-pervading, the immortal.
नमः स्थूलाय सूक्ष्माय व्यापकाय महात्मने
Salutations to the gross and the subtle, the all-pervading, the great soul.
नमश्चन्द्रकलाधार नमो दिग्वसनाय च
Salutations to the bearer of the crescent moon; salutations to the one clothed in directions.
नमस्ते ज्ञानरूपाय ज्ञानगम्याय ते नमः
Salutations to you, whose form is knowledge, who is attainable through knowledge.
काशीपते नमस्तुभ्यं गिरिशाय नमोनमः 7.3.4.
O Lord of Kāśī, salutations to you; repeated salutations to the Lord of the Mountain.
गौरीकान्त नम स्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं शिवात्मने
O beloved of Gaurī, salutations to you; salutations to you, whose nature is auspiciousness.