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.
तस्या रूपं प्रवक्ष्यामि भक्तानां शुभदं परम्
I shall describe her form, which bestows auspiciousness to devotees.
प्रत्यक्षरूपिणी देवी दृश्यते मणिकर्णिका
The goddess appears in visible form at Maṇikarṇikā.
पश्चिमाभिमुखी नित्यं प्रबद्धकरसंपुटा
She always faces west, with her hands joined in reverence.
वरोद्यते करे सव्ये मातुलुंग फलं शुभम् 4.2.61.
In her raised left hand, she holds an auspicious citron fruit.
शुद्धस्फटिककांतिश्च सुनील स्निग्धमूर्द्धजा
Her radiance is like pure crystal, her hair deep blue and glossy.
प्रत्यग्रकेतकीपुष्पलसद्धम्मिल्ल मस्तका
Her head is adorned with a fresh ketakī flower bun.
पुंडरीकमयीं मालां सश्रीकां बिभ्रती हृदि
She wears a lotus garland, graced with fortune, upon her heart.
निर्वाणलक्ष्मीभवनं श्रीमतीमणिकर्णिका यस्यावर्तनतः सिद्ध्येदपि सिद्ध्यष्टकं नृणाम्
Maṇikarṇikā, resplendent, is the abode of the fortune of liberation; by her revolution, even the eightfold perfection is attained by people.
वाग्भवमायालक्ष्मीमदनप्रणवान्वदेत्पूर्वम्
First, one should recite the syllables of speech, illusion, fortune, desire, and the sacred syllable.
मंत्रःसुरद्रुमसमः समस्तसुखसंततिप्रदो जप्यः
The mantra, equal to the celestial wish-fulfilling tree, should be recited, as it grants all streams of happiness.