अथवा वारिता भिक्षा केनाप्यस्मासु चेर्ष्यया
Or perhaps someone, out of jealousy, has prevented alms from reaching us.
किमेतदखिलमज्ञात्वा समागच्छत सत्वरम् समाचख्युः समागम्य दृष्ट्वर्द्धि तत्पुरौकसाम्
Why do you all come together so quickly without knowing all this? They gathered and, having assembled, reported the prosperity of the city's inhabitants.
नान्नक्षयो वा सर्वस्यां नगर्यामिह कुत्रचित्
There is no shortage of food anywhere in this city.
यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षाद्यत्राऽमरधुनी स्वयम्
Where Lord of the Universe is present in person, and where the celestial river herself flows,
समृद्धिर्या गृहस्थानामिह विश्वेशितुः पुरि
The prosperity of householders here is due to the Lord of the Universe's city.
रत्नाकरेषु रत्नानि न तावंति महामुने
Even in the treasure oceans, the jewels are not as numerous, O great sage,
गृहेगृहेत्र धान्यानां राशयो यादृशः पुनः 4.2.96.
As the heaps of grain found in every house here.
श्रीकंठाः सर्व एवात्र सर्वे मृत्युंजया ध्रुवम् 4.2.96.
All here are blessed by Śrīkaṇṭha, all are certainly conquerors of death.
सरस्वती सरिद्रूपा ह्यतः शास्त्रनिकेतनम्
Sarasvatī, in the form of a river, is therefore the abode of scriptures.
सर्वे सुरनिकायाश्च सर्व एव महर्षयः 4.2.96.
All the hosts of gods and all the great sages are here.
गर्वः परोत्र विद्यानां धनगर्वोत्र वै महान्
Pride of learning is found elsewhere, but here pride of wealth is indeed great.
अथ गच्छन्महादेव्या गृहद्वारि निषण्णया 4.2.96.
Then, as he was going, he saw Mahādevī seated at the doorway of a house.
असत्कृत्यातिथिं नाथो न मे भोक्ष्यति कर्हिचित्
The lord will never partake of food if a guest has been dishonored.
मन्ये धर्ममयी मूर्तिः कापि त्वं शुचिमानसा
I think you are some embodiment of righteousness, O pure-hearted one.
किंवा नु करुणामूर्तिरिह काशिनिवासिनाम् 4.2.96.
Or perhaps, here, compassion itself has taken form among the dwellers of Kāśī?
अत्रत्यस्यैव हि मुने गृहिणी गृहमेधिनः 4.2.96.
O sage, the wife of the householder here belongs to this very place.
यावतार्थिजनस्तृप्तिमेति सर्वोपि सर्वशः 4.2.96.
As long as every person is fully satisfied in every way—
अतितृप्तिं समापन्नास्ते तदन्ननिषेवणात् 4.2.96.
They attained supreme satisfaction from partaking of that food.
विचार्य कारिता नित्यं स्वधिष्ण्योदय चिंतनम् 4.2.96.
After careful consideration, constant reflection on the rise of one's own household was undertaken.
अद्य प्रभृति न क्षेत्रे मदीये शापवर्जिते ।। 4.2.96.
From today onward, in my field, which is free from curses—
अहोरात्रं स पश्यन्वै क्षेत्रं दृष्टेरदूरगम् 4.2.96.
Day and night, he kept observing the field, which was far from his sight.
श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं व्यासशाप विमोक्षणम्
Hearing this sacred recitation, which brings release from Vyāsa's curse—
आश्चर्यभाजनं जातस्तीर्थानि कथयाधुना
A vessel of wonder has arisen; now tell of the sacred fords.
आनंदकानने यानि यत्र संति षडानन
Those which are in Ānandavana, where they exist, O six-faced one—
यादृशः कथितो वच्मि तादृशं शृणु कुंभज
As they are, I will speak; listen, O Kumbhaja, just as they have been described.
तानि तानीह मे काश्यां तत्रतत्र वद प्रभो
Those very ones here in Kāśī—tell of them, O Lord, in each place.
जलाशयेपि तीर्थाख्या जाता मूर्ति परिग्रहात्
Even in reservoirs of water, places called tīrthas have arisen due to the presence of images.
मूर्तयो ब्रह्मविष्ण्वर्कशिवविघ्नेश्वरादिकाः
The images are of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Sun, Śiva, Gaṇeśa, and others.
वाराणस्यां महादेवः प्रथमं तीर्थमुच्यते
In Vārāṇasī, the first tīrtha is said to be of Mahādeva.
क्षेत्रपूर्वोत्तरेभागे तद्दृष्टं पशुपाशहृत्
It is seen in the northeastern part of the field, where the bonds of creatures are cut.