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—
तल्लिंगं पूजयामासुः श्रद्धया परया नृप
They worshipped that liṅga with supreme faith, O King.
सर्वपापहरं नॄणां रूपसौभण्यदायकम्
It removes all sins of people and bestows beauty of form.
तत्र पूर्वं वपुर्नाम्ना लोके ख्याता वराप्सराः
There, in former times, was a renowned celestial nymph named Vapu.
पुराऽऽसीत्काचिदाभीरी विरूपा विकृतानना
Once there was an Ābhīrī woman, deformed and with a misshapen face.
एकदा फलमादातुं भ्रममाणाऽर्बुदाचले
One day, wandering on Mount Arbuda to gather fruit,
दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरा दिव्यैरंगैः समन्विता
She became adorned with divine garlands and garments, endowed with celestial limbs.
सा संजाता महाराज तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः
She was transformed, O great king, by the power of this holy place.
क्रीडार्थं पर्वतश्रेष्ठे तां ददर्श शुभेक्षणाम्
For sport, on the highest peak, he saw her, beautiful of gaze.
देवी वा नागकन्या वा सिद्धा विद्याधरी तु वा
Was she a goddess, a nāga maiden, a siddhā, or a vidyādhari?
मनो मेऽपहृतं सुभ्रूस्त्वया च पद्मनेत्रया
My mind has been stolen by you, O lovely-browed, lotus-eyed one.