भैरवस्य महाक्षेत्रं तद्वै साधकसिद्धिदम्
That is the great sacred ground of Bhairava, which grants success to practitioners.
तत्र चण्डी महामुण्डा भक्तविघ्नोपशांतिदा। बलिपूजोपहाराद्यैः पूज्या स्वाभीष्टसिद्धये
There, Caṇḍī Mahāmuṇḍā removes obstacles for devotees; she is to be worshipped with offerings, sacrifices, and gifts for the fulfillment of one's wishes.
तस्या यात्रां तु यः कुर्यान्महाष्टम्यां नरोत्तमः
Whoever, O best of men, undertakes her pilgrimage on the great eighth day—
महामुण्डा प्रतीच्यां तु चतुःसागरवापिका
To the west of Mahāmuṇḍā is the pond called Catuḥsāgara.
महाप्रसिद्धं तत्स्थानं चतुःसागरसंज्ञितम्
That place is very renowned and is called Catuḥsāgara.
तस्या वाप्याश्चतुर्दिक्षु पूजितानि दहंत्यघम्
At the four directions of that pond, the deities who are worshipped there burn away sin.
हरस्य वृषभेणैव स्थापितं तत्स्वभक्तितः 4.2.66.
That was established by Hara himself, out of devotion, with his bull.
वृषेश्वरादुदीच्यां तु गंधर्वेश्वरसंज्ञितम्
To the north of Vṛṣeśvara is the place called Gandharveśvara.
गंधर्वेश्वरमभ्यर्च्य दत्त्वा दानानि शक्तितः
After worshipping Gandharveśvara and giving gifts according to one's ability—
कर्कोटनामा नागोस्ति गन्धर्वेश्वरपूर्वतः
There is a nāga named Karkoṭa to the east of Gandharveśvara.
तस्यां वाप्यां नरः स्नात्वा कर्कोटेशं समर्च्य च
Whoever bathes in that pond and worships Karkoṭeśa—
कर्कोट नागो यैर्दृष्टस्तद्वाप्यां विहितोदकैः
Those who have seen the nāga Karkoṭa in that pond, with the prescribed waters—
कर्कोटेशात्प्रतीच्यां तु धुंधुमारीश्वराभिधम्
To the west of Karkoṭa is the lord known as Dhuṃdhumāriśvara.
पुरूरवेश्वरं लिंगं तदुदीच्यां व्यवस्थितम्
The liṅga called Purūraveśvara is established to the north.
दिग्गजेनार्चितं लिंगं सुप्रतीकेन तत्पुरः
That liṅga, worshipped by the elephant of the quarters, Supratīka, stands before it.
सरश्च सुप्रतीकाख्यं तत्पुरो भासते महत्
And before it shines the great lake named Supratīka.
तत्रास्त्येका महागौरी नाम्ना विजयभैरवी 4.2.66.
There is a single great Gaurī, by name Vijayabhairavī.
वरणायास्तटे रम्ये गणौ हुंडनमुंडनौ
On the beautiful bank of the Varaṇā are the two Gaṇas, Huṃḍana and Muṃḍana.
तौ द्रष्टव्यौ प्रयत्नेन क्षेत्रनिर्विघ्न हेतवे
Those two should be seen with care, for the removal of obstacles in the field.
स्कंद उवाच इल्वलारे कथामेकां शृणुष्वावहितो भव
Skanda said: Ilvalāra, listen attentively to a certain story.
एकदाद्रींद्रमालोक्य मेना संहृष्टमानसम्
Once, seeing the lord of the mountains, Menā's heart was filled with joy.
विवाहसमयादूर्ध्वं तस्या गौर्या गिरीश्वर
After the time of the wedding, for that Gaurī, O lord of the mountains—
स वृषेंद्रगतिर्देवो भस्मोरग विभूषणः
That god, adorned with ashes and serpents, went to the lord of bulls.
अष्टौ या मातरो दृष्टा ब्राह्मी प्रभृतयः प्रिय
The eight mothers, beginning with Brāhmī, were seen, O dear one.
तस्यैकस्य न कोप्यन्योस्त्यद्वितीयस्य शूलिनः
Of them, there is no one else, no second, for the trident-bearer.
तस्याः प्रियाया वाक्येन तदपत्यप्रियो गिरिः
By the words of his beloved, the mountain became fond of her offspring.
नितरां बाधते प्रेम तददृष्ट्यग्निदूषितम् ।।4.2.66.
Love torments him deeply, tainted by the fire of her absence.
यदा प्रभृति सा गौरी निर्गता मम सद्मतः
From the time that Gaurī departed from my abode,
तदालापामृतधयौ न मे शब्दग्रहौ प्रिये
Drinking the nectar of her speech, my ears no longer grasp any other sound, dear one.
जैवातृकी यतोह्नः स्याद्दूरीभूता दृशोर्मम
Since that day, my eyes have become distant from all else, as if by a natural bond.