पप्रच्छ दमनं चेति कस्त्वं कस्मादिहागतः
He asked Damana: 'Who are you? For what reason have you come here?'
भगोः पाशुपताचार्य सर्वज्ञाराधनप्रिय
The teacher of the Pāśupata path, devoted to the worship of the all-knowing Lord Bhaga.
कथयामि यथार्थं ते निजचेतोविचेष्टितम्
I will tell you truly the movements of my own mind.
संसारासारतां ज्ञात्वा वानप्रस्थमशिश्रियम्
Recognizing the futility of worldly existence, I embraced the life of a forest-dweller.
स्नातं बहुषु तीर्थेषु मंत्रा जप्तास्तु कोटिशः
I have bathed at many sacred fords, and recited mantras by the millions.
शुश्रूषिताश्च गुरवो बहवो बह्वनेहसम्
I have served many teachers, most of whom were free from faults.
शिखराणि गिरींद्राणां मया चाध्युषितान्यहो 4.2.74.
I have dwelled upon the peaks of the great mountains, indeed.
रसायनानि बहुशः सेवितानि मया पुनः
I have repeatedly practiced many kinds of alchemical preparations.
मया प्रविष्टा बहुशः कृतांतवदनोपमाः
I have entered many places resembling the face of Death.
परं किंचित्क्वचिन्नैक्षि सिद्ध्यंकुरमपि प्रभो
Yet, O Lord, I did not see anywhere even a trace of true accomplishment.
मनसः स्थैर्यमापन्नमिव संप्राप्तसिद्धिना
My mind seemed to have attained stability, as if I had achieved perfection.
तेनैव महती सिद्धिर्भवित्री मम नान्यथा
By that alone, great accomplishment will come to me, not otherwise.
अनेनैव शरीरेण पार्थिवेन प्रथीयसी
With this very body, made of earth and most powerful,
प्रत्यक्षदृष्टं प्रोवाच महदाश्चर्यमुत्तमम् मुमुक्षूणां धृतवतां महापाशुपतं व्रतम्
He spoke of a supreme and wondrous thing, seen directly— the great Pāśupata vow for those who seek liberation and are steadfast.
शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा तदा ते कथयाम्यहम्
Now, listen attentively; I will tell you that.
अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे सर्वसिद्धिप्रदे सताम्
In Avimukta, the great field that grants all attainments to the virtuous,
समाश्रितानां जंतूनां सर्वेषां सर्वकर्मणाम् 4.2.74.
For all beings who have taken refuge there, and for all their actions,
कर्मभूरुह दावाग्नौ संसाराब्ध्यौर्वशोचिपि
In the wildfire of the tree of karma, in the burning pain of the ocean of worldly existence,
दीर्घनिद्रा प्रसुप्तानां परमोद्बोधदायिनि
For those long asleep in deep slumber, it bestows the highest awakening.
अनेकजन्मजनित महापापाद्रिवज्रिणि
It is the thunderbolt that shatters the great mountain of sins accumulated over countless births.
विश्वेशितुः परेधाम्नि सीम्नि स्वर्गापवर्गयोः
At the supreme abode of the Lord of all, at the boundary between heaven and liberation,
एवंविधे महाक्षेत्रे सर्वदुःखौघहारिणि
In such a great sacred field, which removes all floods of suffering,
यत्र कालभयं नास्ति यत्र नास्त्येनसो भयम्
Where there is no fear of time or death, where there is no fear from sin,
तीर्थानि यानि लोकेस्मिञ्जंतूनामघहान्यहो
The holy places in this world, which remove the sins of living beings—indeed,
अपि काश्यां वसेद्यस्तु सर्वाशी सर्वविक्रयी
Even one who dwells in Kāśī, whether he desires everything or sells everything,
रागबीजसमुद्भूतः संसारविटपो महान्
The great tree of worldly existence, arisen from the seed of passion,
सर्वेषामूषराणां तु काशी परम ऊषरः 4.2.74.
Among all barren lands, Kāśī is the supreme barren land.
स्मरिष्यंतीह ये काशीमवश्यं तेपि साधवः
Those who remember Kāśī here, they too surely become virtuous.
विभूतिः सर्वलोकानां सत्यादीनां सुभंगुरा
The glory of all worlds, of truth and the like, is very fragile.
कृमिकीटपतंगानामविमुक्ते तनुत्यजाम्
For worms, insects, and moths who give up their bodies in Avimukta,