मुने रहस्यभूतानि र्लिगान्येतानि निश्चितम् 4.2.94.
O sage, these liṅgas are certainly of a secret nature.
मोक्षक्षेत्रमिंदं काशी लिंगैरेतैर्मेहामते
This Kāśī is the field of liberation, O wise one, because of these liṅgas.
आनंदकाननं शंभोः क्षेत्रमेतदनादिमत्
This is the eternal field of Śambhu, called the Forest of Bliss.
योगसिद्धिरिहास्त्येव तपःसिद्धिरिहैव हि
Here indeed is the attainment of yoga, and here truly is the accomplishment of austerity.
सिद्ध्यष्टकं तु यत्प्रोक्तमणिमादि महत्तरम्
The eightfold attainment, beginning with aṇimā, which has been described, is supreme.
निर्वाणलक्ष्म्याः सदनमेतदानंदकाननम्
This Forest of Bliss is the abode of the fortune of liberation.
अयमेव महालाभ इदमेव परं तपः
This alone is the greatest gain; this alone is the highest austerity.
अवश्यं जन्मिनो मृत्युर्यत्र कुत्र भविष्यति
For one who is born, death will certainly occur somewhere, at some time.
मृत्युं विज्ञाय नियतं गतिकर्मानुसारिणीम्
Knowing that death is certain and follows the course of one's deeds and destiny—
मानुष्यं प्राप्य यं मूढा निमेषमितजीवितम्
Having attained human birth, those deluded ones waste their brief lives in a moment.
दुर्लभं जन्म मानुष्यं दुर्लभा काशिकापुरी 4.2.94.
Human birth is rare, and the city of Kāśī is even rarer.
क्व च तादृक्तपांसीह क्व तादृग्योग उत्तमः
Where else is such austerity to be found here? Where else is such supreme yoga?
सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं सत्यपूर्वं पुनःपुनः
Truth, truth, again truth—truth above all, again and again.
विश्वेशो मुक्तिदो नित्यं मुक्त्यै चोत्तरवाहिनी
The Lord of the universe is always the giver of liberation, and the path to liberation flows upward.
एक एव हि विश्वेशो मुक्तिदो नान्य एव हि
Truly, the Lord of the universe alone is the giver of liberation; there is no other.
सायुज्यमुक्तिरत्रैव सान्निध्यादिरथान्यतः
Union-liberation is found here alone; proximity and other forms are otherwise.
कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासोऽकथयद्यन्महद्वचः
Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa spoke this great statement.
व्यास उवाच [। भविष्यं मम तस्याग्रे कुंभयोने महामते
Vyāsa said: O wise one, in the future, before me and you, O Kumbhayoni, this will occur.
पाराशर्यो मुनिवरो यथा मोहमुपैष्यति
The great sage, son of Parāśara, will fall into delusion.
व्यस्य वेदान्महाबुद्धिर्नाना शाखा प्रभेदतः
Having divided the Vedas, the great-minded one will separate them into many branches.
श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणानां रहस्यं यस्त्वचीकरत्
He who made known the secret of the Vedas, Smṛtis, and Purāṇas to you.
सर्वपापप्रशमनं सर्वशांतिकरं परम्
That supreme knowledge removes all sins and brings all peace.
एकदा स मुनिः श्रीमान्पर्यटन्पृथिवीतले
Once, that illustrious sage wandered upon the surface of the earth.
अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि शौनकाद्यास्तपोधनाः
Eighty-eight thousand ascetics, beginning with Śaunaka, rich in austerities,
विभूतिधारिणो भक्त्या रुद्रसूक्तजपप्रियान्
Endowed with spiritual powers, devotedly fond of reciting the Rudra hymn,
एक एव हि विश्वेशो मुक्तिदो नान्य एव हि
Truly, the Lord of the universe alone is the giver of liberation; there is no other.
विलोक्य स मुनिर्व्यासस्तासर्वान्गिरिशात्मनः 4.2.95.
Seeing all of them, the sage Vyāsa, whose soul is Śiva,
परिनिर्मथ्य वाग्जालं सुनिश्चित्यासकृद्बहु
Having thoroughly examined the web of words, and having repeatedly and firmly ascertained,
वेदे रामायणे चैव पुराणेषु च भारते
In the Veda, in the Rāmāyaṇa, and in the Purāṇas and the Bhārata,
सत्यं सत्यं त्रिसत्यं पुनः सत्यं न मृषा पुनः
Truth, truth, thrice truth, again truth—never false, again.