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.
वरं विषमपिप्राश्यं शिवस्वं नैव भक्षयेत्
It is better to eat poison than to consume what belongs to Śiva.
शिवस्य परिपुष्टांगाः स्पर्शनीया न साधुभिः
Those whose bodies are nourished by Śiva's remnants should not be touched by the virtuous.
कश्चित्काकः समालोक्य मंडूकीं तामितस्ततः
A certain crow, seeing that frog, approached her from here and there.
वर्षाभ्वी तेन सा क्षिप्ता काकेन क्षेत्रबाह्यतः
During the rainy season, that frog was seized by the crow and taken outside the field.
प्रदक्षिणीकरणतो लिंगस्यस्पर्शनादपि
Because of circumambulating the liṅga and even touching it,
शुभावयवसंस्थाना शुभलक्षणलक्षिता
She attained a beautiful form, marked by auspicious features.
सम्यग्गीतरहस्यज्ञा नितरां मधुरस्वरा 4.2.74.
She possessed perfect knowledge of the secret of singing, and her voice was exceedingly sweet.
ताना एकोनपंचाश ताला एकोत्तरंशतम्
There are forty-nine musical notes and one hundred and one rhythms.
षड्विंशद्रागरागिण्य इति रागि मुदावहाः
There are twenty-six melodies, each with its own distinctive mood, and these melodies bring joy.
यावंत एव तालाः स्यु रागास्तावंत एव हि
As many rhythms as there are, so too are there melodies; indeed, the number of melodies matches the rhythms.