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.
उकारमथ तस्याग्रे रजोरूपं यजुर्जनिम्
Then, before it, he saw the syllable 'u', of the nature of rajas, the origin of yajur.
नीरवध्वांतसंकेत सदनाभं तदग्रतः
Ahead of that, he saw the sign of endless darkness, resembling a dwelling without support.
साम्नो योनिं लये हेतुं साक्षाद्रुद्रस्वरूपिणम्
He saw the source of Sāma, the cause of dissolution, directly manifest as the form of Rudra.
विश्वरूपमयाकारं सगुणं वापि निर्गुणम्
He saw the form pervaded by the universe, either with attributes or without attributes.
शव्दब्रह्मेति यत्ख्यातं सर्ववाङ्मयकारणम्
That which is known as sound-Brahman, the cause of all speech and language.
कारणं कारणानां च जगद्योनिं च तं परम्
The cause of causes, and the supreme source of the universe.
अवनादोमिति ख्यातं सर्वस्यास्य प्रभावतः
It is known as 'Avanāda' due to the power of all this.
अरूपोपि सरूपाढ्यः स धात्रा नेत्रगीकृतः ततस्तार इति ख्यातो यस्तं ब्रह्मा व्यलोकयत् ।। 4.2.73.
Though formless, he is endowed with forms; by the Creator he was made visible to the eye. Therefore he is called 'Tāra', whom Brahmā beheld.
प्रणूयते यतः सर्वैः परनिर्वाणकामुकैः
He is praised by all who desire supreme liberation.
स्वसेवितारं पुरुषं प्रणयेद्यः परंपदम्
He who leads the man who serves him to the supreme state.