ब्रह्मांडभांडमथवा स्फोटयामः क्षणेन हि
In but a moment, we could shatter the shell of the cosmic egg.
ग्रसामो वाथ भुवनं मुक्त्वा वाराणसीं पुरीम्
Or else, we could devour the world, sparing only the city of Varanasi.
कुतोऽयं धूमसंभारो ज्वालावल्यः कुतस्त्वमूः
From where does this mass of smoke arise? From where do these tongues of flame come?
इति पारिषदाः शंभोर्महाभय भयप्रदाः
Thus, the attendants of Shambhu, terrifying and bringers of fear, spoke.
शकलीकृत्य बहुशः शिलावत्प्रलयानलम्
Again and again, they shattered the fire of dissolution like stones.
महाहनुर्महाग्रीवो महाकालो जितांतकः
Great-jawed, great-necked, great in time, conqueror of Death,
क्षोभणो द्रावणो जृंभी पचास्यः पंचलोचनः 4.2.85.
Agitator, disperser, expander, with a mouth that cooks, five-eyed,
चंडो भृंगिरिटिस्तुंडी प्रचंडस्तांडवप्रियः
Fierce, with a bee’s crest, beaked, exceedingly fierce, lover of the wild dance,
क्षेमकः क्षेमधन्वा च वीरभद्रो रणप्रियः
Protector, armed with the bow of welfare, Virabhadra, lover of battle,
दीर्घग्रीवोथ पिंगाक्षः पिंगलः पिंगमूर्धजः
Long-necked, tawny-eyed, tawny, with tawny hair,
गोकर्णो गजकर्णश्च कोकिलाख्यो गजाननः
Cow-eared, elephant-eared, called Kokila, elephant-faced,
सीरपाणिः शिवारावो वैणिको वेणुवादनः
Plough-handed, with Shiva’s roar, lute-player, flute-player,
इत्यादयो गणेशानाः शतकोटि दुरासदाः
Such were the lords of the hosts, a hundred crore, unassailable.
क्षुब्धेषु तेषु वीरेषु चकंपे भुवनत्रयम्
When those heroes were agitated, the three worlds trembled.
तदा विविशतुः काश्यां सूर्याचंद्रमसावपि
Then, even the Sun and Moon entered Kashi.
निवार्य प्रमथानीकमतिक्षुब्धमुमाधवः
Restraining the exceedingly agitated host of Pramathas, Umadhava,
अथो दुर्वाससे लिंगादाविरासीत्कृपानिधिः 4.2.85.
Then, from the linga of Durvasa, the ocean of compassion appeared.
माभूच्छापो मुनेः काश्यां निर्वाणप्रतिबंधकः
Let not the sage’s curse in Kashi become an obstacle to liberation.
उवाच च प्रसन्नोस्मि महाक्रोधन तापस
And he said: I am pleased with you, O great and wrathful ascetic.
ततो विलज्जितोगस्त्य शापोद्यतकरो मुनिः
Then Agastya, feeling ashamed, the sage who had raised his hand to curse,
उवाच चेति बहुशो धिङ्मां क्रोधवशंगतम्
Said repeatedly: Fie upon me, who was overcome by anger.
दुःखार्णव निमग्नानां यातायातेति खेदिनाम्
For those who are plunged in the ocean of sorrow, who are weary from coming and going,
सर्वेषां जंतुजातानां जनन्येकैक्काशिका। महामृतस्तन्यदात्री नेत्री च परमं पदम्
For all living beings, Kāśī is the one mother, the single nurse of immortality, the giver of the highest state.
जनन्या सह नो काशी लभेदुपमितिं क्वचित्
Nowhere can we find an equal to Kāśī, even with one's own mother.
एवंभूतां तु यः काशीमन्योपि हि शपिष्यति
And whoever else would curse Kāśī, who is of such a nature,
इति दुर्वाससो वाक्यं श्रुत्वा देवस्त्रिलोचनः
Hearing these words of Durvāsas, the god with three eyes,
यः काशीं स्तौति मेधावी यः काशीं हृदि धारयेत् 4.2.85.
Whoever praises Kāśī with wisdom, whoever holds Kāśī in his heart,
जिह्वाग्रे वर्तते यस्य काशीत्यक्षरयुग्मकम्
On whose tongue the pair of syllables 'Kāśī' abides,
यो मंत्रं जपति प्रातः काशी वर्णद्वयात्मकम्
Who recites in the morning the mantra consisting of the two letters of Kāśī,
आनुसूयेय ते ज्ञानं काशीस्तवन पुण्यतः
To you, O Anasūyeya, I grant the merit of praising Kāśī.