एको ब्राह्मणदायाद उज्जयिन्या इहागतः
A single heir of the Brahmins came here from Ujjayinī.
स्थलीं पाशुपतीं काशीं स विलोक्य समंततः
He beheld the land of Pāśupati, Kāśī, all around.
कृतलिंगसमर्चैश्च भूतिभूषितवर्ष्मभिः
With worship of the established liṅga and bodies adorned with sacred ash,
बभूवानंदितमना व्रतं जग्राह चोत्तमम्
His mind became joyful, and he undertook the highest vow.
स च शिष्यो वशिष्ठोभूत्सर्वपाशुपतोत्तमः
He became the disciple of Vasiṣṭha, the foremost among all Pāśupatas.
विभूत्याहरहः स्नाति त्रिकालं लिंगमर्चयन्
Every day, smeared with sacred ash, he bathed and worshipped the liṅga three times daily.
स द्वादशाब्ददेशीयो वशिष्ठो गुरुणा सह
That Vasiṣṭha, along with his guru, stayed there for twelve years.
यत्र गत्वा न शोचंति किंचित्संसारिणः क्वचित 4.2.77.
Where, having gone, those bound to worldly existence never grieve for anything, anywhere.
असिधारं गिरिं प्राप्य वशिष्ठस्य तपस्विनः
Having reached the mountain as sharp as a sword, Vasiṣṭha the ascetic—
पश्यतां तापसानां च विमाने सार्वकामिके
While the ascetics watched, in a celestial chariot granting all desires—
यस्तु केदारमुद्दिश्य गेहादर्धपथेप्यहो
Whoever, even halfway from home, sets out with Kedāra as the goal—
तदाश्चर्यं समालोक्य स वशिष्ठस्तपोधनः
Beholding that wonder, Vasiṣṭha, rich in austerity, was amazed.
अथ कृत्वा स कैदारीं यात्रां वाराणसीमगात्
Then, having completed the pilgrimage to Kedāra, he went to Vārāṇasī.
प्रति चैत्रं सदा चैत्र्यां यावज्जीवमहं ध्रुवम्
Every year, always in the month of Caitra, I shall certainly do so as long as I live.
तेन यात्राः कृताः सम्यक् षष्टिरेकाधिका मुदा
Thus, with joy, he completed sixty-one pilgrimages in full.
पुनर्यात्रां स वै चक्रे मधौ निकटवर्तिनि
Again, he undertook the pilgrimage when spring was near.
तपोधनैस्तन्निधनं शंकमानैर्निवारितः
He was restrained by ascetics, fearing his end was near.
ततोपि न तदुत्साहभंगोभूद्दृढचेतसः 4.2.77.
Yet, even then, his firm resolve was not broken, nor did his enthusiasm waver.
इति निश्चितचेतस्के वशिष्ठे तापसे शुचौ
Thus, to Vasiṣṭha, the pure-minded and self-controlled sage, with a determined heart—
स्वप्रेमया स संप्रोक्तो वशिष्ठस्तापसोत्तमः
He, the foremost of ascetics, Vasiṣṭha, was addressed by me with my own affection.
अभीष्टं च वरं मत्तः प्रार्थयस्वाविचारितम्
Ask from me, without hesitation, whatever boon you desire.
ततोपि स मया प्रोक्तः स्वप्नो मिथ्याऽशुचिष्मताम्
Then I said to him: 'The dream is false, O pure-hearted one.'
वरं ब्रूहि प्रसन्नोस्मि स्वप्नशंकां त्यज द्विज
Speak your boon, for I am pleased; abandon your doubt about the dream, O twice-born one.
इत्युक्तं मे समाकर्ण्य वरयामास मामिति
Hearing this from me, he then began to request his boon from me.
यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश तदा मे सानुगा इमे
If you are truly pleased, O Lord of the gods, then may these here, along with their followers, [receive the boon].
देवि तस्येदमाकर्ण्य परोपकृतिशालिनः
O Goddess, hearing this from him, who is devoted to the welfare of others—
पुनः परोपकरणात्तत्तपो द्विगुणीकृतम्
Again, because of his beneficence, his austerity was doubled.
स वशिष्ठो महाप्राज्ञो दृढ पाशुपतव्रतः 4.2.77.
That Vasiṣṭha, great in wisdom and firm in the vow of Pāśupata observance—
ततस्तत्तपसाकृष्टः कलामात्रेण तत्र हि
Then, drawn by that austerity, in but a moment, there—
ततः प्रभाते संजाते सर्वेषां पश्यतामहम्
Then, when morning had come, in the sight of all—