नारदः शौनकश्चैव हारीतो देवलस्तथा
Nārada, Śaunaka, Hārīta, and Devala as well—
एते चान्ये च बहवो देवव्रतपरायणाः
—and many others devoted to vows for the gods—
अन्ये च विविधां पूजां जपमन्ये समाहिताः
Others perform various worships, and some, concentrated, recite prayers.
बलिमन्ये प्रयच्छंति स्तुतिं कुर्वंति चापरे
Some offer oblations, while others utter praises.
परं कौतुकमापन्ना वाक्यमेतदथाब्रुवन्
Filled with great curiosity, they then spoke these words:
ऋषय ऊचुः कस्मात्त्वं पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ प्रदक्षिणापरः सदा
The sages said: Why are you, O best of kings, always devoted to circumambulation?
न ददासि जलं लिंगे प्रभूतं सुमनोहरम्
You do not offer abundant, delightful water to the liṅga—
समर्थोऽसि तथान्येषां दानानां त्वं महीपते 7.3.7.
Yet, O lord of the earth, you are capable of giving other gifts as well.
पूर्वदेहांतरे वृत्तं सर्वं सत्यं विशेषतः
All that occurred in my previous body is entirely true, especially so.
प्रासादेऽस्मिन्पुरा पक्षी शुकोऽहं स्थितवांस्तदा
Formerly, in this very palace, I dwelt as a bird—a parrot—at that time.
कृपयाऽस्य प्रभावाच्च जातो जातिस्मरस्त्वहम्
By his compassion and power, I was born with the memory of my past birth.
न जाने किं फलं मेऽद्य देवस्यास्य प्रसादतः
I do not know what fruit I shall receive today from this god’s grace.
पुलस्त्य उवाच वेणुवाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा मुनयः शंसितव्रताः
Pulastya said: Then, having heard Veṇu’s words, the sages renowned for their vows—
ततः प्रदक्षिण पराः सर्वे तत्र महर्षयः
Thereupon, all those great sages performed circumambulation there.
सोऽपि राजा महाभागो वेणुः शंभोः प्रसादतः
That blessed king Veṇu too, by Śambhu’s grace—
त्रिनेत्राभाः शिला यत्र दृश्यंतेऽद्यापि भूरिशः
There, even today, many stones resembling the three-eyed one are seen.
तस्यैव पश्चिमे भागे लिंगमस्ति पिनाकिनः
On its western side is the liṅga of Pinākin.
भद्रकर्णगणोनाम पुरासीच्छिववल्लभः
In ancient times, Bhadrakarṇa Gaṇa, beloved of Śiva, was there.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन संग्रामे दानवैः सह
Then, at some time, in battle with the Dānavas—
नष्टे स्कंदे हते सैन्ये वीरभद्रे पराजिते
When Skanda was lost, the army slain, and Vīrabhadra defeated—
बलवान्नमुचिर्नाम दानवो बलवत्तरः
There was a powerful Dānava named Namuci, stronger still.
भद्रकर्णस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा दानवं तदनंतरम्
Bhadrakarṇa, seeing that Dānava immediately—
छित्त्वाऽसिमसिना तस्य चर्म चापि महाबलः
With his mighty sword, he struck and cut off that one’s armor.
अथासौ निहतस्तेन प्रविश्य विपुलं तमः वधं प्राप्तस्तु दैत्योऽसौ नत्वा हरमसौ स्थितः 7.3.8.
Then, struck down by him, that Daitya entered deep darkness; slain, he bowed to Hara and remained there.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो हृदये स्थितः
‘Choose a boon, good one, you who always dwell in my heart.’
अत्रास्तु तव सांनिध्यं ह्रदेऽस्मिंश्च स्थिरो भव
‘May your presence be here, and may you remain steadfast in this lake.’
सांनिध्यं च विशेषेण ह्रदे लिंगे भविष्यति
There will be a special presence in the lake and in the liṅga.
भद्रकर्णह्रदे स्नात्वा त्रिनेत्रं यः समाहितः
Whoever bathes in the Bhadrakarṇa lake with focused mind upon the Three-Eyed One—
तस्मात्सर्वत्र यत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, one should diligently perform bathing there above all other places.
केदारमिति विख्यातं सर्वपापहरं नृणाम्
It is renowned as Kedāra, the remover of all sins for people.