अनुग्राह्योऽसि नितरां ततो वरय दुर्लभम्
You are indeed most worthy of my favor; therefore, ask for a rare boon.
तल्लिंगमन्येप्याराध्य संतु समृद्धिभाजनम्
Let others too, by worshipping that liṅga, become vessels of prosperity.
अन्यच्च नाथ प्रार्थ्योसि तच्च विश्राणयिष्यसि
And whatever else, O Lord, you desire, that too shall be granted.
देवदेव उवाच एवमस्तु यदुक्तं ते तव लिंगसमर्चकाः
The God of gods said: So be it, as you have spoken—those who worship your liṅga—
यदा च राजा भविता दिवोदासो विधेर्वरात्
And when the king Divodāsa is born, by the boon of fate,
नवीकृत्य पुनः काशी निर्विष्टा तेन भूभुजा
He will renew Kāśī, and that land will be settled by that ruler.
विष्णोः सदुपदेशाच्च मामेव शरणं गतः
By the true instruction of Viṣṇu, he will take refuge in me alone.
विश्वकर्मन्व्रज गुरोः शासनाय यतस्व च
Go, Viśvakarman, and strive to carry out the command of the Guru.
ये गुरुं चावमन्यंते तेवमान्या मयाप्यहो 4.2.86.
Those who disrespect the Guru are not to be respected by me either, alas.
ममार्च्यमविमुक्ताख्यं ततो देवि ममा ख्यकम् 4.2.86.
My worshipful form called Avimukta, O goddess, is therefore renowned as mine.
काश्यां स्वलीलया देवि तिर्यग्योनिजुषामपि 4.2.86.
In Kāśī, by my own play, O goddess, even among those born in lower wombs,
चतुर्दशानां लिंगानां श्रुत्वाख्यानानि सत्तमः
Having heard the accounts of the fourteen liṅgas, the noble one—
प्रादुर्भावं निशम्यैषां लिंगानां मुक्तिदायिनाम्
Having heard of the manifestation of these liṅgas that grant liberation,
नितरां परितृप्तोस्मि सुधां पीत्वेव निर्जरः
I am completely satisfied, as if an immortal after drinking nectar.
आनंदमेवजनयेदपि पापजुषामिह
Even for those here who are steeped in sin, it would produce only joy.
जीवन्मुक्तइवासं हि क्षेत्रतत्त्वश्रुतेरहम् यान्युक्तानि समाचक्ष्व तत्प्रभावमशेषतः
Indeed, I have become liberated while living, by hearing the truth of the field; tell me in full the powers of those you have mentioned.
यो दक्षो गर्हयामास मध्ये देवसभं विभुम्
That Dakṣa, who reproached the Lord in the midst of the assembly of gods—
इति श्रुत्वा शिखिरथः कुंभयोनेरुदीरितम्
Having heard thus what was spoken by Śikhiratha, son of Kumbha,
आकर्णय मुने वच्मि कथां कल्मषहारिणीम्
Listen, O sage, I will tell a story that destroys sin.
छागवक्त्रो विरूपास्यो दधीचि परिधिक्कृतः
With the face of a goat, deformed in appearance, Dadhīci was surrounded.
एकदा देवदेवस्य सेवार्थं शशिमौलिनः
Once, for the service of the Lord of gods, the one with the crescent moon,
इंद्रादयो लोकपाला विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः 4.2.87.
Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, the Viśvedevās, and the hosts of Maruts—
ऋषयोऽप्सरसोयक्षा गंधर्वाः सिद्धचारणाः
The seers, celestial nymphs, yakṣas, gandharvas, siddhas, and cāraṇas—
स्तुतश्च नाना स्तुतिभिः शंभुनापि कृतादराः
—praised with various hymns, even by Śambhu, and shown honor.
अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु शंभुना विष्टरश्रवाः
Then, as they were seated, Śambhu, famed for his eloquence—
श्रीवत्सलांछन हरे दैत्यवंशदवानल
—addressed Hari, marked by the Śrīvatsa, the fire consuming the race of Daityas:
दितिजान्दनुजान्दुष्टान्कच्चिच्छासि रणांगणे
Are you, on the battlefield, destroying the wicked sons of Diti and Danu?
बाधया रहिता गावः कच्चित्संति महीतले
Are the cows on earth now free from harm and flourishing?
विधियज्ञाः प्रवर्तंते पृथिव्यां बहुदक्षिणाः
Are the prescribed sacrifices, with abundant gifts, being performed on earth?
निष्प्रत्यूहं पठंत्येव सांगान्वेदान्द्विजोत्तमाः
Are the best of twice-born reciting the Vedas with their limbs, without obstruction?