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.
सा पूजिता प्रयत्नेन सुखवस्तिप्रदा सदा
When she is worshipped with devotion, she always bestows the comfort of a happy dwelling.
तद्दर्शनाद्भवेत्सम्यग्गोदानजनितं फलम् 4.2.97.
By seeing her, one attains the full fruit that arises from the gift of a cow.
तद्दर्शनाद्भवेत्पुंसां फलं यज्ञसमुद्भवम्
By seeing that, a person obtains the fruit that comes from performing a sacrifice.
लिंगं दृष्ट्वा प्रयत्नेन वैष्णवं पदमृच्छति
By earnestly beholding the liṅga, one attains the abode of Viṣṇu.
तस्य संपूजनान्मर्त्यो विज्वरो जायते क्षणात्
By worshipping it, a mortal instantly becomes free from affliction.
वेदेश्वरादुदीच्यां तु क्षेत्रज्ञश्चादिकेशवः
In the north of Vedeśvara is the knower of the field, the primordial Keśava.
संगमेश्वरमालोक्य तत्प्राच्याम जायतेनघः
Beholding Saṃgameśvara in the east, one is born there, O sinless one.
प्रयागसंज्ञकम लिंगमर्चितम ब्रह्मलोकदम्
The liṅga called Prayāga, when worshipped, grants the world of Brahmā.
वरणायास्तटे पूर्वे पूज्यं कुंतीश्वरं नृभिः
On the eastern bank of the Varaṇā, Kuntīśvara is to be worshipped by men.
कुंतीश्वरादुत्तरतस्तीर्थं वै कापिलो ह्रदः
To the north of Kuntīśvara is the sacred place, the lake of Kapila.