इमानि यानि लिंगानि सर्वेषां मुक्तिदानि हि मयैतानि कृतान्येव महाभक्तिकृपावशात्
These emblems, which grant liberation to all, have indeed been established by me out of great devotion and compassion.
अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे ध्रुवं मुक्तिरिति या प्रथिति प्रिये
Beloved, the certainty of liberation in this sacred field is well known.
त एव व्रतिनः कांते त एव च तपस्विनः
O lovely one, those are the true observers of vows, those are the true ascetics.
त एवाभ्यस्तसद्योगा दत्तदानास्त एव हि
Those alone are the ones who have practiced true yoga and given gifts.
इष्टापूर्ताश्च ये धर्माः प्रणीता मुनिसत्तमैः
The righteous acts, both sacrificial and charitable, as established by the foremost sages,
येनाविमुक्तमासाद्य महालिंगानि पार्वति
By which, having reached Avimukta, O Pārvatī, one attains the great emblems,
स्वभक्तानां हिताथार्य तान्यथाकर्णयाग्रज
For the benefit of my own devotees, O noble one, listen to them as I recount.
शैलेशः संगमेशश्च स्वर्लीनो मध्यमेश्वरः 4.2.73.
Śaileśa, Saṃgameśa, Svarlīna, and Madhyameśvara—
उपशांत शिवो ज्येष्ठो निवासेश्वर एव च
Upaśānta, Śiva the eldest, and Nivāseśvara as well,
मुने चतुर्दशैतानि महांत्यायतनानि वै
O sage, these fourteen are indeed the great sanctuaries.
चैत्रकृष्णप्रतिपदं समारभ्य प्रयत्नतः
Beginning from the first day of the dark half of Caitra, with great effort,
एतेषां वार्षिकी यात्रा सुमहोत्सवपूर्वकम्
The annual pilgrimage to these is celebrated with a grand festival.
मुने चतुर्दशैतानि महालिंगानि यत्नतः
O sage, these fourteen great emblems must be worshipped with care.
क्षेत्रस्य परमं तत्त्वमेतदेव प्रिये ध्रुवम्
Beloved, this indeed is the supreme truth of the sacred field, without doubt.
क्षेत्रस्योपनिषच्चैषा मुक्तिबीजमिदं परम्
This is the Upaniṣad of the field, the supreme seed of liberation.
एकैकस्यास्य लिंगस्य महिमाद्यंत वर्जितः
The greatness of each of these emblems is truly without beginning or end.
इति श्रुत्वा मुने प्राह देवी हृष्टतनूरुहा
Hearing this, O sage, the goddess spoke, her body thrilled with joy.
तच्छ्रुत्वोत्सुकतां प्राप्तं मनो मेतीव वल्लभ ।। 4.2.73.
Hearing this, my mind, O beloved, has become filled with eager curiosity.
यदुक्तं लिगमेकैकं महासारतरं परम्
That which has been spoken, each individual liṅga, is supremely essential and profound.
प्रत्येकं महिमानं मे ब्रूह्येषां भुवनेश्वर
O Lord of the worlds, I shall declare the greatness of each one of these.
ओंकारेशस्य लिंगस्य कथमत्र समागमः
How does the union occur here between the liṅga of Oṃkāreśa and Oṃkāra?
किमात्मकोऽयमोंकारो महिमास्य च को हर
What is the nature of this Oṃkāra, and what is its greatness, O Hara?
मृडानीवाक्सुधामेतां विधाय श्रुतिगोचराम्
O Mṛḍa, please arrange this nectar of speech so that it is accessible to the hearing.
यथोंकारस्य लिंगस्य प्रादुर्भाव इहाभवत्
Just as the manifestation of Oṃkāra and the liṅga occurred here,
पुरानंदवने चात्र ब्रह्मणा विश्वयोनिना
Formerly, in the forest of bliss, by Brahmā, the source of the universe,
पूर्णे युगसहस्रेऽथ भित्त्वा पातालसप्तकम्
After a thousand ages had passed, piercing the seven realms of Pātāla,
यदंतराविरभवन्निर्व्याजेन समाधिना
When, through unfeigned meditation, the inner essence appeared,
योभूच्चटचटाशब्दः स्फुटतो भूमिभागतः ।। 4.2.73.
That which arose was a sharp, crackling sound, distinctly from the earth's portion.
स्रष्टाविसृष्ट तद्ध्यानो यावदुन्मील्यलोचने
The creator, having released that meditation, opened his eyes.
अकारं सत्त्वसंपन्नमृक्क्षेत्रं सृष्टिपालकम्
He saw the syllable 'a', endowed with sattva, the field of earth, the protector of creation.