रत्नाकरे रत्नसंख्या संख्याविद्भिरपीष्यते
Even the knowers of numbers desire to know the count of jewels in the ocean of gems.
अहो उदर्क एतस्य न कैश्चित्प्रतिपद्यते 4.2.58.
Alas, the consequence of this is not grasped by anyone.
विलोक्य काशीं परितो मायाद्विजवपुर्हरिः 4.2.58.
Hari, assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa by his māyā, beheld Kāśī all around.
अभिषिच्य महाबुद्धिः पौराञ्जानपदानपि 4.2.58.
Having anointed them, the great-minded one also consecrated the citizens and countryfolk.
दिव्यैर्दुकूलनेपथ्यैरलंचक्रे मुदान्वितैः 4.2.58.
He adorned them with divine silken garments and ornaments, filled with joy.
अस्याख्यानस्य पठनाद्विष्णोरिव मनोरथाः
By reciting this narrative, one's desires are fulfilled, just as by Viṣṇu.
अगस्त्य उवाच सर्वज्ञ हृदयानंद गौरीचुंबितमूर्धज
Agastya said: O all-knowing one, delight of the heart, whose locks are kissed by Gaurī.
सर्वज्ञाननिधे तुभ्यं नमः सर्वज्ञसूनवे
O treasure of all knowledge, I bow to you, son of the all-knowing one.
कामारिमर्धनारीशं वीक्ष्य कामकृतं किल
Having seen Kāmarimardana, Īśa of the gods, it is said that desire was created.
यदुक्तं भवता स्कंद मायाद्विजवपुर्हरिः
What you have spoken, O Skanda, O Hari who assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa by māyā—
भूर्भुवःस्वः प्रदेशेषु काशीपरमपावनम्
Among the regions of Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, and Svaḥ, Kāśī is supremely pure.
कुतः पंचनदं नाम तस्य तीर्थस्य षण्मुख
O Ṣaṇmukha, why is that tīrtha called Pañcanada?
कथं च भगवान्विष्णुरंतरात्मा जगत्पतिः
How does the blessed Viṣṇu, the inner soul and lord of the universe, exist?
अरूपो रूपमापन्नो ह्यव्यक्तो व्यक्ततां गतः
He is formless, yet assumes form; unmanifest, yet attains manifestation.
अजन्मानेकजन्मा च त्वनामास्फुटनामभृत्
He is unborn, yet has many births; you bear names both clear and obscure.
अहृषीकोहृषीकेशो प्यनंघ्रिरपिसर्वगः 4.2.59.
Without senses, yet called Hṛṣīkeśa; without feet, yet all-pervading.
स्कंद उवाच कथयामि कथामेतां नमस्कृत्य महेश्वरम्
Skanda said: I will recount this tale, having bowed to Maheśvara.
यथा पंचनदं तीर्थं काश्यां प्रथितिमागतम्
How the sacred place Pañcanada gained renown in Kāśī.
प्रयागोपि च तीर्थेशो यत्र साक्षात्स्वयं स्थितः
Even at Prayāga, the lord of the sacred places stands manifest there himself.
हरंति सर्वतीर्थानि प्रयागस्य बलेन हि
By the power of Prayāga, all sacred places are drawn there.
प्रत्यब्दं निर्मलानि स्युस्तीर्थराज समागमात्
Each year, they become pure through the gathering at the king of sacred places.
महाघिनां महाघं च हरेत्पांचनदाद्बलात् तमेकमज्जनादूर्जे त्यजेत्पंचनदे ध्रुवम्
By the strength of Pañcanada, one may remove great sins of the sinful; by a single bath in Pañcanada, one surely abandons them.
यथा पंचनदोत्पत्तिस्तथा च कथयाम्यहम्
Just as the origin of Pañcanada, so too I shall narrate.
पुरा वेदशिरा नाम मुनिरासीन्महातपाः
Long ago, there was a sage named Vedaśirā, of great austerity.
तपस्यतस्तस्य मुनेः पुरोदृग्गोचरं गता 4.2.59.
While that sage was engaged in austerity, a woman appeared before him, visible to his sight.
तस्या दर्शनमात्रेण परिक्षुब्धं मुनेर्मनः
At merely seeing her, the mind of the sage was disturbed.
दूरादेव नमस्कृत्य तमृषिं साभ्यभाषत
From a distance, she bowed to the sage and spoke to him.
नापराध्नोम्यहं किंचिन्महोग्रतपसांनिधे
I have committed no offense, O repository of fierce austerity.
मुनीनां मानसं प्रायो यत्पद्मादपि तन्मृदु
The minds of sages are generally softer than even a lotus.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्याः शुचेरप्सरसो मुनिः
Hearing the words of that pure apsaras, the sage...