पुलस्त्य उवाच तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो विप्रो ज्ञात्वा तं वृषभध्वजम्
Pulastya said: Seeing that, the Brahmin was astonished, and recognizing him as the bull-bannered one—
निश्चितं त्वं मया ज्ञात एतन्मे हृदि वर्तते
Certainly, I have recognized you; this abides in my heart.
नान्यस्यायं प्रभावश्च त्वया यो मे प्रदर्शितः
This power you have shown me belongs to no one else but you.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नृत्याधिक्यं यतः कृतम्
Choose a boon, good fortune to you, for you have excelled in dance.
त्वत्प्रसादात्फलं तेषां राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः
By your favor, they shall obtain the fruit of the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
ते यास्यंति परं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्
They will attain the highest state, free from old age and death.
अत्र गंगासरस्वत्योः संगमे लोकविश्रुते
Here, at the famous confluence of the Ganga and Sarasvati—
सुवर्णं येऽत्र दास्यंति यथाशक्त्या द्विजोत्तमे
Those who give gold here, according to their ability, to the best of Brahmins—
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे राजन्देवदेवो महेश्वरः ॥ 7.3.10.
Having spoken thus, O king, the god of gods, Maheshvara, vanished.
यं दृष्ट्वा मानवः सम्यक्परां सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्
By seeing whom, a man may truly attain supreme accomplishment—
शृणु तत्राभवत्पूर्वं यदाश्चर्यं महीपते
Hear now, O king, what wondrous thing happened there in former times.
अन्योऽन्यं स्पर्धया सर्वे हेलयाऽर्बुदमागताः
All of them, out of rivalry and sport, came together in a multitude.
आगमिष्यति यः पश्चाद्ब्राह्मणः श्वा भविष्यति
The Brāhmaṇa who comes later will become a dog.
इत्येवं स्पर्धमानास्ते हेलयाऽर्बुदमागताः
Thus, competing with each other, they came to Arbuda carelessly.
शांतास्तपस्विनः सर्वे वेदविद्याविशारदाः
All the ascetics were peaceful, accomplished in Vedic knowledge and learning.
कृपया परयाविष्टो भक्तिभावान्महेश्वरः
Great Śiva, filled with supreme compassion and devotion, appeared.
एकस्मिन्नेव काले तु सर्वैर्दृष्टो महेश्वरः
At that very moment, Maheśvara was seen by all.
अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे समं दृष्ट्वा महेश्वरम्
Then all those sages, seeing Maheśvara together,
भक्तियुक्ता द्विजाः सर्वेऽस्तुवंस्ते वैदिकैः स्तवैः 7.3.11.
All the devoted Brāhmaṇas praised him with Vedic hymns.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच तुष्टोऽहं मुनयः सर्वे श्रद्धया परया हि वः
Śrī Mahādeva said: I am pleased, O sages, by your supreme faith.
युगपद्दर्शनाद्देव जायतां फलमुत्तमम्
May the supreme fruit arise from the simultaneous vision of the Lord.
दर्शनं ये करिष्यंति तेषां च तीर्थजं फलम्
Those who will have this vision shall obtain the merit of holy bathing places.
एकं कोटिमयं लिंगं क्रियतां वृषभध्वज
Let a single liṅga made of a crore be established, O Bull-bannered One.
यस्मिन्दृष्टे फलं नृणां जायते कोटिलिंगजम्
By seeing which, people obtain the fruit of a crore liṅgas.
निर्भिद्य पर्वतश्रेष्ठं सहसा लिंगमुद्गतम्
Suddenly, breaking through the great mountain, the liṅga emerged.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke.
माघकृष्णचतुर्द्दश्यां यश्चैनं पूजयिष्यति
Whoever worships this on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Māgha—
सर्वं कोटिगुणं तस्य फलं विप्रा भविष्यति
O Brāhmaṇas, all the fruit for him will be multiplied a crore times.
फलं कोटिगुणं तस्य गयाश्राद्धसमं भवेत् 7.3.11.
His fruit will be a crore times greater, equal to the merit of offering śrāddha at Gayā.
ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे गंधधूपानुलेपनैः
Then all those sages, with perfumes, incense, and ointments—