नारदाद्यैर्मुनिवरैराबाल ब्रह्मचारिभिः
By sages such as Narada and others, even from childhood, while observing celibacy.
तंसूक्ष्मरूपमजमव्ययमेकमाद्यं बह्माद्यगोचरमजेयमनंतशक्तिम्
That subtle, unborn, imperishable, one, the original, beyond the reach of Brahma and others, unconquerable, of infinite power.
एकैकमेव तव नामहरेन्मुरारे जन्मार्जिताघमघिनां च महापदाढ्यम्
Each one of your names alone, O Hari, O slayer of Mura, destroys the great heap of sins accumulated through birth.
नारायणेति नरकार्णव तारणेति दामोदरेति मधुहेति चतुर्भुजेति
Narayana, deliverer from the ocean of hell; Damodara; slayer of Madhu; four-armed one—
ये त्वां त्रिविक्रम सदा हृदि शीलयंति कादंबिनी रुचिर रोचिषमंबुजाक्षम्
Those who always meditate upon you, O Trivikrama, lotus-eyed, radiant as a cluster of clouds, in their hearts—
श्रीवत्सलांछनहरेच्युतकैटभारे गोविंदतार्क्ष्य रथकेशवचक्रपाणे
O Hari, marked with Srivatsa; Achyuta; burden of Kaitabha; Govinda; rider of Garuda; Keshava; wielder of the discus—
यैरर्चितोसि भगवंस्तुलसीप्रसूनैर्दूरीकृतैणमदसौरभदिव्यगंधैः
By whom, O Lord, you are worshipped with tulasi and flowers, with divine fragrances surpassing the scent of rutting elephants—
यद्वाचि नाम तव कामदमब्जनेत्र यच्छ्रोत्रयोस्तव कथा मधुराक्षराणि
O lotus-eyed one, whose name is wish-fulfilling when spoken, whose stories, with sweet syllables, are heard by the ears—
ये त्वां भजंति सततं भुविशेषशायिंस्ताञ्छ्रीपते पितृपतींद्र कुबेरमुख्याः 4.2.60.
Those who always worship you, who rest upon Shesha on earth, O Lord of Shri, are revered by the lords of ancestors, Indra, Kubera, and others.
ये त्वां स्तुवंति सततं दिवितान्स्तुवंति सिद्धाप्सरोमरगणा लसदब्जपाणे
Those who always praise you, are praised by the gods, by Siddhas, Apsaras, and hosts of Maruts, O lotus-handed one.
त्वं हंसि पासि सृजसि क्षणतः स्वलीला लीलावपुर्धर विरिंचिनतांघ्रियुग्म
You destroy, protect, and create in a moment by your own play, O one who assumes forms at will, O whose feet are sought by Brahma.
स्तोता त्वमेव दनुजेंद्ररिपो स्तुतिस्त्वं स्तुत्यस्त्वमेव सकलं हि भवानिहैकः
You alone are the praiser, the praised, and the praise; you alone are everything here, O foe of the lords of the demons.
इति स्तुत्वा हृषीकेशमग्निबिंदुर्महातपाः
Thus, having praised Hrishikesha, Agnibindu, the great ascetic, became delighted.
श्रीविष्णुरुवाच वरं वरय सुप्रीतस्तवादेयं न किंचन
Sri Vishnu said: 'Choose a boon; I am greatly pleased. There is nothing that cannot be granted to you.'
अग्निबिंदुरुवाच यदि प्रीतोसि भगवन्वैकुंठेश जगत्पते
Agnibindu said: 'If you are pleased, O Lord, O master of Vaikuntha, O Lord of the world—'
कृतानुज्ञोथ हरिणा भ्रूभंगेन स तापसः
Then, having been granted permission by Hari with a movement of his brow, that ascetic—
भगवन्सर्वगोपीह तिष्ठ पंचनदे ह्रदे
O Lord of all, remain here among the cows in the lake of the Five Rivers.
लक्ष्मीशे न वरो मह्यमेष देयोऽविचारतः
O Lord of Lakshmi, this boon is not to be given to me without due consideration.
इति श्रुत्वा वरं तस्याग्निबिंदोर्मधुसूदनः 4.2.60.
Hearing her request for a boon, Madhusudana listened to Agnibindu.
काशीभक्तिमतां पुंसां मुक्तिमार्गं समादिशन्
He instructed the devoted men of Kashi in the path of liberation.
मुने पुनः प्रसन्नोस्मि वरं ब्रूहि ददामि ते
O sage, I am pleased with you again; ask for a boon, I shall grant it to you.
आदावेव हि तिष्ठासुरहमत्र तपोनिधे
From the very beginning, O treasure of austerity, I have wished to remain here.
प्राप्य काशीं सुदुर्मेधाः कस्त्यजेज्ज्ञानवान्यदि
Who, possessing wisdom, would abandon Kashi after attaining it, unless their intellect is greatly deluded?
अल्पीयसा श्रमेणेह वपुषो व्ययमात्रतः
Here, with only a little effort, merely by the exhaustion of the body,
विनिमय्य जराजीर्णं देहं पार्थिवमत्र वै
Exchanging this aged and worn-out earthly body here,
न तपोभिर्न वा दानैर्न यज्ञैर्बहुदक्षिणैः
Not by austerities, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifices with many fees,
अपि योगं हि युंजाना योगिनो यतमानसाः
Even yogis striving earnestly, practicing yoga,
इदमेव महादानमिदमेव महत्तपः
This alone is the great gift, this alone is the supreme austerity.
स एव विद्वाञ्जगति स एव विजितेंद्रियः 4.2.60.
He alone is wise in the world, he alone has conquered his senses.
तावत्स्थास्याम्यहं चात्र यावत्काशी मुने त्विह
O sage, I shall remain here as long as Kashi exists.