अन्यद्रहस्यं वक्ष्यामि न वाच्यं यत्रकुत्रचित्
I will tell you another secret, which must not be spoken anywhere else.
काश्यां सर्वाणि तीर्थानि एकैकादुत्तरोत्तरम्
In Kashi, all the sacred fords are present, one after another, in succession.
एतदेव रहस्यं ते वाराणस्या उदीर्यते
This very secret of Varanasi is declared to you.
गर्जंति सर्वतीर्थानि स्वस्वधिष्ण्यगतान्यहो 4.2.61.
All the sacred fords, remaining in their own abodes, resound—indeed, how wondrous!
पापानि पापिनां हत्वा महांत्यपि बहून्यपि
Even after killing many great sinners and committing numerous sins,
पर्वस्वपर्वस्वपि वा नित्यं नियमवं त्यहो
Whether on festival days or on ordinary days, always with discipline—alas!
विश्वेशो विश्वया सार्धं सदोपमणिकर्णिकम्
The Lord of the universe, together with Viśvayā, is ever present at Maṇikarṇikā.
वैकुंठादप्यहं नित्यं मध्याह्ने मणिकर्णिकाम्
I am always at Maṇikarṇikā at midday, even more than in Vaikuṇṭha.
सकृन्ममाख्यां गृणतां निर्हरन्यदघान्यहम्
For those who recite my name even once, I remove their sins.
सत्यलोकात्प्रतिदिनं हं सयानः पितामहः
Every day, Brahmā comes from Satyaloka, accompanied by his swan.
इंद्राद्या लोकपालाश्च मरीच्याद्या महर्षयः
Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, as well as the great sages like Marīci,
शेषवासुकिमुख्याश्च नागा वै नागलोकतः
And the foremost serpents, Śeṣa and Vāsuki, come from the world of the nāgas.
चराचरेषु सर्वेषु यावंतश्च सचेतनाः
All beings, both moving and unmoving, and all those who possess consciousness,
के माणिकर्णिकेयानां गुणानां सुगरीयसाम् 4.2.61.
Who can describe the virtues of those belonging to Maṇikarṇikā, which are so exalted?
चीर्णान्युग्राण्यरण्येषु तैस्तपांसि तपोधनैः
Those ascetics, rich in austerity, have performed fierce penances in the forests.
विश्राणितमहादानास्त एव नरपुंगवाः
Those eminent men have given great gifts and made generous donations.
चीर्णसर्वव्रतास्ते तु यथोक्तविधिना ध्रुवम्
They have observed all vows, certainly, according to the prescribed method.
त एव धन्या मर्त्येस्मिन्सर्वक्रतुषु दीक्षिताः
They alone are blessed among mortals, initiated in all sacrifices.
कृता नानाविधा धर्मा इष्टापूर्तास्तु तैर्नृभिः
Various kinds of righteous acts, as well as rituals of worship and charity, have been performed by those men.
रत्नानि सदुकूलानि कांचनं गजवाजिनः
Jewels with fine cloth, gold, elephants, and horses,
पुण्येनोपार्जितं द्रव्यमत्यल्पमपि यैर्नरैः
Even the smallest wealth acquired by those men through merit,
कुर्याद्यथोक्तमप्येकं प्राणायामं नरोत्तमः
The best of men should perform even a single prāṇāyāma as prescribed.
जप्त्वैकामपि गायत्रीं संप्राप्य मणिकर्णिकाम्
Having recited even a single Gayatri mantra and reaching Manikarnika,
एकामप्याहुतिं प्राज्ञो दत्त्वोपमणिकर्णिकम् 4.2.61.
Or, the wise one, having offered even a single oblation near Manikarnika,
इति श्रुत्वा हरेर्वाक्यमग्निबिंदुर्महातपाः
Hearing thus the words of Hari, Agnibindu, the great ascetic,
विष्णो कियत्परीमाणा पुण्यैषा मणिकर्णिका
O Vishnu, how great is the merit of this Manikarnika?
आगंगा केशवादा च हरिश्चंद्रस्य मंडपात्
From the Ganga to Keshava and from the pavilion of Harishchandra,
स्थूलमेतत्परीमाणं सूक्ष्मं च प्रवदामि ते
This is the gross extent; now I will tell you the subtle measure.
सीमाविनायकश्चात्र मणिकर्णी ह्रदोत्तरे
Here is Simavinayaka, to the north of the Manikarnika pond.
मोदकैः सोपचारैश्च प्राप्नुयान्मणिकर्णिकाम्
One who reaches Manikarnika with offerings and proper worship,