किं स्थानं वसतिर्वा का को बंधुर्वेत्सि किंचन
What place, what dwelling, who is a relative—do you know anything?
निशम्येति वचो मातुरतिह्रीणा गिरींद्रजा
Hearing these words of her mother, the daughter of the mountain, without any shyness—
मया श्वश्रूगृहं कांत गम्यमद्य विनिश्चितम्
My beloved, today it is decided that I must go to my mother-in-law's house.
गिरींद्रजागिरं श्रुत्वा गिरीश इति तत्त्ववित्
Hearing the words of the mountain's daughter, the knower of truth, Lord of the Mountain—
प्राप्यानंदवनं देवी परमानंदकारणम्
The goddess reached the Forest of Joy, the cause of supreme delight.
अथ विज्ञापयांचक्रे गौरी गिरिशमेकदा
Then, once, Gaurī made her request known to Giriśa.
इति गौरीरितं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच पिनाकधृक्
Having heard these words spoken by Gaurī, the bearer of Pināka replied—
तिलांतरं न देव्यस्ति विना लिंगं हि कुत्रचित् 4.2.90.
O goddess, there is no difference of sesame without the liṅga anywhere.
अन्यत्रापि हि सा देवि भवेदानंदकारणम्
Elsewhere too, that goddess can be the cause of bliss.
परमानंदरूपाणि संति लिंगान्यनेकशः
There are many forms that are embodiments of supreme bliss.
तैः स्वनाम्नेह लिंगानि कृत्वाऽऽपि कृतकृत्यता
By establishing those liṅgas here under their own names, one’s purpose is fulfilled.
वेत्ति तच्छ्रेयसः संख्यां शेषोपि न विशेषवित्
Even the remainder does not know the number of those supreme blessings.
परिच्छेदव्यतीतस्यानंदस्य परकारणम्
The cause of another’s bliss is beyond all limitation.
निशम्येति महादेवी पुनः पादौ प्रणम्य च
Hearing this, the great goddess again bowed at the feet.
पत्युराज्ञां समासाद्य यच्छेच्छ्रेयः पतिव्रता
Having received her husband’s command, the devoted wife should seek the highest good.
इति प्रसाद्य देवेशमाज्ञां प्राप्य महेशितुः
Thus, having propitiated the Lord of gods and obtained the command of the great Lord,
तल्लिंगदर्शनात्पुंसां ब्रह्महत्यादिपातकम्
By seeing that liṅga, all sins such as the killing of a brāhmaṇa are destroyed for men.
तत्र लिंगे वरो दत्तो देवदेवेन यः पुनः 4.2.90.
There, the best of boons was granted by the Lord of gods regarding that liṅga.
लिंगं यः पार्वतीशाख्यं काश्यां संपूजयिष्यति
Whoever worships the liṅga called Pārvatīśa in Kāśī,
काशीलिंगत्वमासाद्य मामेवानुप्रवेक्ष्यति
Having attained the Kāśī liṅga, he will enter into me.
इह सौभाग्यमाप्नोति परत्र च शुभां गतिम्
Here he attains good fortune, and hereafter he reaches an auspicious state.
न गर्भमाविशेद्भूयो भवेत्सौभाग्यभाजनम्
He does not enter the womb again, and becomes a recipient of good fortune.
अपि जन्मसहस्रस्य पापं क्षयति तत्क्षणात् ऐहिकामुष्मिकान्कामान्स प्राप्स्यति महामतिः
Even the sin of a thousand births is destroyed at that moment; that wise one attains all desired enjoyments in this world and the next.
मुने निशामयेदानीं गंगेश्वरसमुद्भवम्
O sage, now listen to the origin of Gaṅgeśvara.
यं श्रुत्वा यत्रकुत्रापि गंगास्नानफलं लभेत्
Hearing which, anywhere, one obtains the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā.
तेन दैलीपिना सार्धमस्मिन्नानंदकानने
Along with that Dailīpin, in this forest of bliss—
स्मृत्वा लिंगप्रतिष्ठायाः काश्यां लोकोत्तरं फलम्
By remembering the installation of the liṅga at Kāśī, one attains a transcendent reward.
गंगेश्वरस्य लिंगस्य काश्यां दृष्टिः सुदुर्लभा
A sight of the liṅga of Gaṅgeśvara at Kāśī is exceedingly rare.
तस्य जन्मसहस्रस्य पापं संक्षीयते क्षणात्
In an instant, the sins of a thousand births of that person are destroyed.
तस्य संदर्शनं पुंसां जायते पुण्यहेतवे
For people, its very sight becomes a cause of merit.