काशीनाथमनुप्राप्ताः परमानंददायिनम्
They reached Kāśīnātha, the bestower of supreme joy.
तीर्थाद्दुर्गतिसंहर्तुर्बाह्मणाः प्रतिपेदिरे
The Brahmins attained the tīrtha of the remover of misfortune.
असीसंभेदमारभ्य गंगातीरस्थिता द्विजाः
Beginning from Asīsaṃbheda, the twice-born standing on the bank of the Gaṅgā—
अष्टादशसहस्राणि तथा पंचशतान्यपि
Eighteen thousand and five hundred as well.
सार्द्रदूर्वाक्षतकरैः सपुष्पफलपाणिभिः
With hands holding wet dūrvā grass, rice grains, flowers, and fruits,
स्तुतो मंगलसूक्तैश्च प्रणतश्च पुनःपुनः
Praised with auspicious hymns and bowed again and again,
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः प्रोचुः प्रबद्धकरसंपुटाः
Then those Brahmins spoke, with their hands joined in reverence:
विशेषतः कृतोऽस्माभिः साक्षान्नयनगोचरः
Especially by us, you have been made directly visible to our eyes.
सदैवाकुशलं तेषां ये त्वत्क्षेत्रपराङ्मुखाः
There is always misfortune for those who turn away from your field.
येषां हृदि सदैवास्ते काशीत्वाशीविषां गद 4.2.64.
But those in whose hearts Kāśī always abides, for them the poison of serpents is but a disease.
गर्भरक्षामणिर्मंत्रः काशीवर्णद्वयात्मकः
The mantra for the protection of the womb is of the twofold form of Kāśī's name.
सुधां पिबति यो नित्यं काशीवर्णद्वयात्मिकाम्
Whoever always drinks the nectar that is of the twofold form of Kāśī's name—
श्रुतं कर्णामृतं येन काशीत्यक्षरयुग्मकम्
He who has heard the nectar for the ears, namely the two syllables 'Kāśī'.
काशी रजोपि यन्मूर्ध्नि पतेदप्यनिलाहतम्
Even if the dust of Kāśī falls upon one's head, whether blown by the wind or not.
प्रसंगतोपि यन्नेत्रपथमानंदकाननम्
Or even if, by association, one sees the forest of blindness along the path.
गच्छता तिष्ठता वापि स्वपता जाग्रताथवा
Whether walking, standing, sleeping, or awake.
येन बीजाक्षरयुगं काशीति हृदि धारितम्
He who holds in his heart the seed syllables 'Kāśī'.
काशी काशीति काशीति जपतो यस्य संस्थितिः
He whose existence is in the repetition of 'Kāśī, Kāśī, Kāśī'.
क्षेममूर्तिरियं काशी क्षेममूर्तिर्भवान्भव
This Kāśī is the form of well-being; you too become the form of well-being.
ब्राह्मणानामिति वचः क्षेत्रभक्तिविबृंहितम् 4.2.64.
This statement, extolled by devotion to the sacred field, is for the Brāhmaṇas.
प्रोवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा धन्या यूयं द्विजर्षभाः
And the serene-minded one spoke: 'Blessed are you, best of twice-born.'
जाने सत्त्वमया जाताः क्षेत्रस्यास्य निषेवणात्
I know you have become composed of sattva by serving this sacred field.
वाराणस्यास्तु ये भक्तास्ते भक्ता मम निश्चितम्
Those who are devoted to Vārāṇasī are certainly devoted to me.
यैश्च काशीस्थितो जंतुरल्पकोपि विरोधितः
And even if a creature residing in Kāśī is insignificant or opposed.
वाराणस्याः स्तुतिमपि यो निशम्यानुमोदते
Whoever hears and approves the praise of Vārāṇasī.
निवसंति हि ये मर्त्या अस्मिन्नानंदकानने
Those mortals who dwell in this forest of blindness.
निवसंति मम क्षेत्रे मम भक्तिं प्रकुर्वते
They dwell in my sacred field and practice devotion to me.
निवसंति मम क्षेत्रे मम भक्तिं न कुर्वते
They dwell in my sacred field but do not practice devotion to me.
काशी निर्वाणनगरी येषां चित्ते प्रकाशते
For whom Kāśī, the city of liberation, shines forth in their mind.
मोक्षलक्ष्मीरियं काशी न येभ्यः परिरोचते 4.2.64.
This Kāśī, the goddess of liberation, does not delight those.