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,
शतं समाःसु तृप्ताः स्युः प्रयच्छंति च वांच्छितम्
For a hundred years, the ancestors are satisfied and grant the desired boon.
हरिश्चंद्रेश्वरं नत्वा न सत्यात्परिहीयते
Having bowed to Harishchandreshvara, one does not fall from truth.
अधिष्ठानं महामेरोर्महापातकनाशनम्
It is the seat of Mahameru, destroyer of great sins.
अध्यास्य मेरुशिखरं दिव्यान्भोगान्समश्नुते 4.2.61.
Residing on the summit of Meru, one enjoys divine pleasures.
कंबलाश्वतरेशं च तत्तीर्थात्पश्चिमे शुभम्
And the auspicious Kambalashvataresha is to the west of that sacred place.
अपि तस्य कुले जाता गीतज्ञाः स्युः श्रियान्विताः
Even those born in his lineage become skilled in song and endowed with prosperity.
संसारचक्रे गहने यत्र स्नातो विशेन्नना
In the dense cycle of worldly existence, where one bathes, there is no return.
समाः परार्धसंख्यातास्तत्र तप्तं महातपः
For countless ages, the great ascetic performed austerities there.
तत्र लब्धं मयैश्वर्यमविनाशि महत्तरम्
There I obtained sovereignty—imperishable and supreme.
द्रवरूपं परित्यज्य ललनारूपधारिणी
Abandoning a liquid form, she assumed the form of a woman.