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,
वाराणसी यदा प्राप्ता कदाचित्कालपर्ययात्
When Vārāṇasī is attained at any time, through the turn of fate,
पूर्वतो मणिकर्णीशो ब्रह्मेशो दक्षिणे स्थितः
To the east stands Maṇikarṇīśa, to the south stands Brahmeśa,
इत्येतदुत्तमं क्षेत्रमविमुक्ते महाफलम्
Thus, this supreme field, Avimukta, bears great fruit.
क्षेत्रं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य राजसूयफलं लभेत्
By circumambulating the field, one obtains the fruit of a Rājasūya sacrifice.
अविमुक्त समं क्षेत्रमपि ब्रह्मांडगोलके
A field equal to Avimukta does not exist even in the cosmic egg.
रक्षंति सततं क्षेत्रं यत्र पाशासिपाणयः
They always protect the field, those who hold nooses and swords in their hands.
प्राग्द्वारमट्टहासश्च गणकोटिपरीवृतः 4.2.74.
At the eastern gate is Aṭṭahāsa, surrounded by hosts of Gaṇas.
तथैव भूतधात्रीशः क्षेत्रदक्षिणरक्षकः
Likewise, Bhūtadhātrīśa is the protector of the southern side of the field.
उदग्द्वारं तथा रक्षेद्घंटाकर्णो महागणः
At the northern gate, the great attendant Ghaṇṭākarṇa protects.
रक्षः काष्ठां शंकुकर्णो दृमिचंडो मरुद्दिशम्
Śaṃkukarṇa guards the Rakṣaḥ wood, and Dṛmicaṇḍa the direction of the wind.
कालाक्षोरण भद्रस्तु कौलेयः कालकंपनः
Kālākṣa, O Raṇa, is auspicious; Kauleya and Kālakaṃpana as well.
वीरभद्रो नभश्चैव कर्दमालिप्तविग्रहः
Vīrabhadra and Nabhas, too, with bodies smeared with mud.
विशालाक्षो महाभीमः कुंडोदरमहोदरौ
Viśālākṣa, the greatly formidable, and Kuṇḍodara and Mahodara.
नंदिसेनश्च पंचालः खरपादकरंटकः
Naṃdisena and Pañcāla, Kharapāda and Karaṃṭaka.
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महापुण्ये लिंगमोंकारसंज्ञकम्
In that field of great merit is a liṅga known as Oṃkāra.
कपिलश्चैव सावर्णिः श्रीकंठः पिगलोंशुमान्
Kapila and Sāvarṇi, Śrīkaṇṭha, Pigala, and Uṃśumān.
एकदा तस्य लिंगस्य कृत्वा पंचापिपूजनम् 4.2.74.
Once, worship of that liṅga was performed with five offerings.
अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तत्र यद्वृत्तमद्भुतम्
And I will tell you further, O sage, of a marvelous event that happened there.
एका भेकी मुने तत्र चरंती लिंग सन्निधौ
There was a single frog, O sage, moving about near the liṅga.
सा तत्र मृत्युं न प्राप शिवनिर्माल्यभक्षणात्
She did not meet death there, because she ate the remnants of Śiva.