अगस्त्य उवाच दृष्ट्वा काशीं दृगानंदां तारकारे पुरारिणा
Agastya said: Having seen Kāśī, delightful to the eyes, where the enemy of Tāraka once dwelled,
मृगांकलक्ष्मणोत्कंठं काशी नेत्रातिथीकृता
Longing for the crescent-marked one, Kāśī was honored as a guest by the Eye.
अथ सर्वज्ञनाथेन भक्तवत्सलचेतसा
Then, by the Lord who knows all, whose heart is affectionate to devotees,
यमनेहसमारभ्य मदंराद्रिं विनिर्ययौ
Beginning from the abode of Yama, he set out for the intoxicated mountain.
तं वासरं पुरस्कृत्य जग्राह नियमं दृढम्
Taking that day as foremost, he undertook a firm vow.
विषमेक्षण पादाब्जं समीक्षिष्ये यदा पुनः
When again shall I behold the lotus feet of the one with the uneven eye?
कुतश्चिद्धारणायोगादथवा शंभ्वनुग्रहात
Whether by the practice of concentration or by Śambhu’s grace,
तं शंभुरेव जानाति नान्यो जानाति कश्चन
Śambhu alone knows that; no one else knows.
ज्येष्ठशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां सोमवारानुराधयोः
On the fourteenth day of the bright half of Jyeṣṭha, on a Monday under Anurādhā,
ज्येष्ठस्थानं ततः काश्यां तदाभूदपि पुण्यदम् 4.2.63.
Then, the Jyeṣṭha-sthāna in Kāśī became especially meritorious.
तल्लिंगदर्शनात्पुंसां पापं जन्मशतार्जितम्
By seeing that liṅga, the sins accumulated over hundreds of births by men are destroyed.
ज्येष्ठवाप्यां नरः स्नात्वा तर्पयित्वा पितामहान्
One who bathes in the Jyeṣṭha pond and offers libations to ancestors,
आविरासीत्स्वयं तत्र ज्येष्ठेश्वर समीपतः
There, near Jyeṣṭheśvara, he appeared in person.
ज्येष्ठे मासि सिताष्टम्यां तत्र कार्यो महोत्सवः
In the month of Jyeṣṭha, on the bright eighth day, a great festival should be held there.
ज्येष्ठां गौरीं नमस्कृत्य ज्येष्ठवापी परिप्लुता
Having bowed to Gaurī, the eldest, she was immersed in the Jyeṣṭha pond.
निवासं कृतवाञ्शंभुस्तस्मिन्स्थाने यतः स्वयम्
Śaṃbhu himself established his residence at that place.
निवासेश्वरलिंगस्य सेवनात्सर्वसंपदः
By serving the liṅga of the Lord in that residence, all prosperity is attained.
कृत्वा श्राद्धं विधानेन ज्येष्ठस्थाने नरोत्तमः
The best of men, having performed the śrāddha ritual properly at the Jyeṣṭha site,
ज्येष्ठतीर्थे नरः काश्यां दत्त्वा दानानि शक्तितः
A man, giving donations according to his ability at the Jyeṣṭha tīrtha in Kāśī,
ज्येष्ठेश्वरो र्च्यः प्रथमं काश्यां श्रेयोर्थिभिर्नरैः 4.2.63.
Jyeṣṭheśvara should be worshipped first in Kāśī by those desiring excellence.
अथ नंदिनमाहूय धूर्जटिः स कृपानिधिः
Then Dhūrjaṭi, the ocean of compassion, summoned Nandin.
तदंतरेस्ति मे भक्तो जैगीषव्यस्तपोधनः
Within that interval, I have a devotee, Jaigīṣavya, rich in austerity.
महानियमवान्नंदिस्त्वगस्थिस्नायु शेषितः
Nandin, possessing great discipline, remains with only skin, bones, and sinews.
यदाप्रभृत्यगां काश्या मंदरं सर्वसुंदरम्
From that time onward, Kāśī became Mandara, supremely beautiful in every way.
गृहाण लीलाकमलमिदं पीयूषपोषणम्
Take this playful lotus, nourished by nectar.
ततो नंदी समादाय तल्लीलाकमलं विभोः
Then Nandin, having taken that playful lotus of the Lord,
नंदी दृष्ट्वाथ तं तत्र धारणादृढमानसम्
Nandin, seeing him there, with steadfast mind due to concentration,
तपांते वृष्टिसंयोगाच्छालूर इव कोटरे
At the end of his austerities, from the union with rain, like a shālūra tree in a hollow,
अथ नंदी समादाय सत्वरं मुनिपुंगवम्
Then Nandin, quickly taking the foremost sage,
जैगीषव्योथ संभ्रांतः पुरतो वीक्ष्य शंकरम् 4.2.63.
Jaigīṣavya, agitated, saw Śaṃkara before him.