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.
विश्वरूपाय शुद्धाय नमस्तुभ्यं महात्मने
Salutations to you, of universal form, pure one, great soul.
परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते भद्रं वरं वरय सुव्रत
I am pleased with you; may good fortune be yours—choose a boon, O steadfast one.
इत्युक्त्वा पर्वतं भित्त्वा तत्पुरो लिंगमुत्थितम्
Having spoken thus, breaking through the mountain, a liṅga arose before him.
मया पूर्वं प्रतिज्ञातं नगस्येह महात्मने
I had previously promised this to the great-souled mountain.
त्वद्वाक्याद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ सर्वं सत्यं भविष्यति
By your words, O best of Brāhmaṇas, all will indeed come true.
स्तोत्रेणानेन यो मर्त्यो मां स्तविष्यति भक्तितः
Whoever among mortals recites this hymn to me with devotion—
मत्प्रियार्थं तु शक्रेण प्रेषिता मुनिसत्तम
O best of sages, I was sent by Indra for the sake of what is dear to me.
देवस्योत्तरदिग्भागे कुंडं तिष्ठति नित्यशः स याति परमं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्
In the northern direction of the god, there is always a sacred pool; whoever goes there attains the supreme state, free from old age and death.
अचलं भेदयित्वा तु यस्मान्मे लिंगमुद्गतम् 7.3.4.
By splitting the mountain, my liṅga emerged from there.
अस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यान्न कदाचिच्चलिष्यति
Because of the greatness of this liṅga, it will never move from its place.