याम्यांसृष्टिगणेशश्च सृष्टिसंहारसूचकः ९ [ प्रतीच्यां गजकर्णश्च सर्वेषां क्षेमकारकः 4.2.57.
In the southern direction is Sṛṣṭigaṇeśa, indicating creation and dissolution; in the west is Gajakarṇa, the bestower of welfare to all.
संप्रसाद्य यथायोगं सर्वानुचित चंचुरः 4.2.57.
Having duly propitiated all, the one with the proper trunk is to be worshipped.
श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं नरः श्रद्धासमन्वितः
A man who, endowed with faith, hears this auspicious chapter—
किं चकार हरः स्कंद मंदराद्रिगतस्तदा
What did Hara do then, O Skanda, when he was on Mount Mandara?
वाराणस्येकविषयामशेषाघौघनाशिनीम्
In Vārāṇasī, in the single region that destroys all heaps of sin—
करींद्रवदने तत्र क्षेत्रवर्येऽविमुक्तके
There, in the foremost field of Avimukta, at the mouth of the lord of elephants—
प्रोक्तोथ बहुशश्चेति बहुमानपुरःसरम्
It has been spoken of many times, and always with great respect.
परं फलंति कर्माणि त्वदधीनानि शंकर
The supreme fruit of actions, O Śaṃkara, depends on you.
अचेतनानि कर्माणि स्वतंत्राः प्राणिनोपि न
Actions are insentient; living beings too are not independent.
किंतु त्वत्पादभक्तानां तादृशी जायते मतिः
But such understanding arises in those devoted to your feet.
यत्किंचिदिह वै कर्मस्तोकं वाऽस्तोकमेव वा
Whatever action is performed here, whether small or very small—
सुसिद्धमपि वै कार्यं सुबुद्ध्यापि स्वनुष्ठितम्
Even a task accomplished perfectly, performed with right understanding—
शंभुना प्रेषितेनाद्य सूद्यमः क्रियते मया 4.2.58.
Today, by the command of Śambhu, this effort is undertaken by me.
अतीव यदसाध्यं स्यात्स्वबुद्धिबलपौरुषैः
That which is exceedingly difficult to achieve by one's own intellect, strength, or effort—
यांति प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य ये भवंतं भवं विभो
Those who circumambulate you, O Lord, O Master of existence,
जातं विद्धि महादेव कार्यमेतत्सुनिश्चितम्
Know, O Mahadeva, that this is a certain and established duty.
अथवा काशिसंप्राप्तौ न चिंत्यं हि शुभाशुभम्
Or, upon arriving in Kashi, one should not consider what is auspicious or inauspicious.
शंभुं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य प्रणम्य च पुनःपुनः
Having circumambulated Shambhu and bowing again and again,
दृशोरतिथितां नीत्वा विष्णुर्वाराणसीं ततः
Vishnu, after staying as a guest in Varanasi, then
गंगावरणयोर्विष्णुः संभेदे स्वच्छमानसः
Vishnu, with a purified mind, at the confluence of Ganga and Varana,
तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं पादोदकमितीरितम्
From that time onward, that sacred place became known as 'Pādodaka.'
तत्र पादोदके तीर्थे ये स्नास्यंतीह मानवाः
Those humans who bathe at that sacred place of Pādodaka,
तत्र श्राद्धं नरः कृत्वा दत्त्वा चैव तिलोदकम् 4.2.58.
There, a man performing Śrāddha and offering water mixed with sesame,
गयायां यादृशी तृप्तिर्लभ्यते प्रपितामहैः
The satisfaction obtained by forefathers at Gaya,
कृतपादोदक स्नानं पीतपादोदकोदकम्
Having bathed in Pādodaka and drunk the water from Pādodaka,
विष्णुपादोदके तीर्थे प्राश्य पादोदकं सकृत्
At the sacred place of Vishnu's Pādodaka, having tasted the water even once,
सचक्र शालग्रामस्य शंखेन स्नापितस्य च
With the discus, with a Śālagrāma, and with a conch, after bathing,
विष्णुपादोदके तीर्थे विष्णुपादोदकं पिबेत्
At the sacred place of Vishnu's Pādodaka, one should drink the water of Vishnu's feet.
काश्यां पादोदके तीर्थे यैः कृता नोदकक्रियाः
In Kashi, at the sacred place of Pādodaka, those who have not performed the water rites,
कृतनित्यक्रियो विष्णुः सलक्ष्मीकः सकाश्यपिः
Vishnu, having performed the daily rites, together with Lakshmi and Kāśyapi,