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.
तारस्तारतृतीयो बिंद्वंतोमणिपदं ततः कर्णिके
The mantra consists of the syllable 'tāra', then 'tāra' again, then the third, followed by the bindu, 'aṃ', the jewel syllable, and then 'karṇikā'.
अयं मंत्रोऽनिशं जप्यः पुंभिर्मुक्तिमभीप्सुभिः
This mantra should be recited constantly by those who desire liberation.
परिप्लुतैः पुंडरीकैर्गव्येन हविषास्फुटैः
With lotuses immersed, and clarified butter as clear offerings.
त्रिलक्षमंत्र जप्येन मृतो देशांतरेष्वपि 4.2.61.
By reciting the mantra three hundred thousand times, even one who dies in another land attains the result.
पूजयित्वा पशुपतिमुपोषणपरायणाः 4.2.61.
Having worshipped Paśupati, devoted to fasting.
तत्राभ्याशे स्कंदतीर्थं तत्राप्लुत्य नरोत्तमः 4.2.61.
Nearby is the Skanda-tīrtha; there, the best of men should bathe.
योगक्षेमं सदा कुर्याद्भवानी काशिवासिनाम् 4.2.61.
Bhavānī always provides protection and welfare for the residents of Kāśī.
ज्ञानतीर्थं च तत्रैव ज्ञानदं सवर्दा नृणाम् 4.2.61.
There, too, is the Jñāna-tīrtha, which bestows knowledge and all boons to people.
पितामहेश्वरं लिंगं ब्रह्मनालोपरिस्थितम् ।। 4.2.61.
The linga of Pitāmaheśvara is situated above by Brahmā.
तत्र भागीरथे तीर्थे श्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानतः 4.2.61.
There, at the Bhāgīratha tīrtha, one should perform śrāddha according to the prescribed rite.