कंदुकेश्वर भक्तानां मानवानां निरेनसाम्
O Kaṃdukeśvara, among the devotees and among men, there is no fatigue.
मृडानी तस्य लिंगस्य पूजां कुर्यात्सदैव हि 4.2.65.
Mṛḍānī should always perform worship of his liṅga, indeed.
कंदुकेशं महालिंगं काश्यां यैर्न समर्चितम्
Those who have not worshipped Kaṃdukeśa, the great liṅga in Kāśī—
द्रष्टव्यं च प्रयत्नेन तल्लिंगं कंदुकेश्वरम्
That liṅga of Kaṃdukeśvara must be seen with effort.
कंदुकेश्वर नामापि श्रुत्वा वृजिनसंततिः
Even hearing the name Kaṃdukeśvara removes a lineage of sin.
यद्वृत्तांतमभूद्विप्र परमाश्चर्यकृद्ध्रुवम्
Whatever happened, O brāhmaṇa, was indeed most wondrous.
दंडखाते महातीर्थे देवर्षिपितृतृप्तिदे
At Daṃḍakhāta, the great tīrtha, which satisfies gods, sages, and ancestors—
दैत्यो दुंदुभिनिर्ह्रादो दुष्टः प्रह्लादमातुलः
There was the wicked demon Duṃdubhinirhrāda, uncle of Prahlāda.
किं बलाश्च किमाहाराः किमाधारा हि देवताः
What is their strength, what is their food, what is their support, O gods?
अवश्यमग्रजन्मानो हेतवोत्र विचारतः
Certainly, the cause of birth must be examined here.
यतः क्रतुभुजो देवाः क्रतवो वेदसंभवाः
Because the gods are eaters of sacrifices, and sacrifices arise from the Vedas.
निश्चितं ब्राह्मणाधाराः सर्वे वेदाः सवासवाः 4.2.65.
It is certain that all the Vedas, along with Indra, are founded upon the brāhmaṇas.
ब्राह्मणा यदि नष्टाः स्युर्वेदा नष्टास्ततः स्वयम्
If the brāhmaṇas are destroyed, then the Vedas themselves are destroyed.
यज्ञेषु नाशं गच्छत्सु हृताहारास्ततः सुराः
When sacrifices perish, the gods lose their sustenance.
अहमेव भविष्यामि मान्यस्त्रिजगतीपतिः
Then I alone shall be honored as the lord of the three worlds.
निर्वेक्ष्यामि सुखान्येव राज्ये निहतकंटके
I will enjoy pleasures in the kingdom, with all obstacles removed.
द्विजाः क्व संति भूयांसो ब्रह्मतेजोतिबृंहिताः
Where are those many twice-born, radiant with the brilliance of Brahman?
भूयसां ब्राह्मणानां तु स्थानं वाराणसी भवेत्
The abode of most brāhmaṇas should be Vārāṇasī.
यत्रयत्र हि तीर्थेषु यत्रयत्राश्रमेषु च
Wherever there are sacred places, and wherever there are hermitages,
इति दुंदुभिनिर्ह्रादो मतिं कृत्वा कुलोचिताम्
Thus, with the sound of the drum, he resolved upon what was proper for his lineage.
यथा कोपि न वेत्त्येव तथाच्छन्नोऽभवत्पुनः 4.2.65.
Just as no one at all knows, so he became concealed again.
अदृश्यरूपी मायावी देवानामप्यगोचरः
He took on an invisible form, a magician, beyond even the perception of the gods.
प्रवेशमुटजानां च निर्गमं च विलोकयन्
Observing the entry and exit of the huts,
निःशब्दमेव नयति नत्यजेदपि कीकसम्
He leads in utter silence, nor would he abandon even a small bird.
एकदा शिवरात्रौ तु भक्तस्त्वेको निजोटजे
Once, on a night sacred to Shiva, a devotee was alone in his own hut.
स च दुंदुभिनिर्ह्राद दैत्येंद्रो बलदर्पितः
And that sound of the drum, the demon king, proud of his strength,
तं भक्तं ध्यानमापन्नं दृढचित्तं शिवेक्षणे
That devotee, absorbed in meditation, with steadfast mind, intent on Shiva,
अथ सर्वगतः शंभुर्ज्ञात्वा तस्याशयं हरः
Then, Shiva, who is all-pervading, knowing his intention, Hara,
यावदादित्सति व्याघ्रस्तावदाविरभूद्धरः
As soon as the tiger was about to attack, Hara appeared.
रुद्रमायांतमालोक्य तद्भक्तार्चित लिंगतः
Seeing Rudra's illusion, from the linga worshipped by that devotee,