अब्रवीत्तं महादेवो वरदोस्मीति पार्थिव
The great god spoke to him, saying, 'I am the giver of boons, O king.'
दास्यामि ते प्रसन्नोऽहं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
I am pleased with you and will grant you, even if it is very difficult to obtain.
विश्वावसुरुवाच एतल्लिंगं सुरश्रेष्ठ ध्यात्वा मनसि निश्चयम्
Viśvāvasu said: 'O best of gods, by meditating with determination in the mind upon this liṅga—'
सिद्धेश्वरं ततो गत्वा सिद्धिं याति सहस्रशः
Then, by approaching Siddheśvara, one attains success thousands of times.
प्रभावात्तस्य लिंगस्य कामानिष्टानवाप्नुयुः
By the power of that liṅga, one obtains desired and undesired results.
न कश्चिद्यजते यज्ञैर्न दानानि प्रयच्छति
No one performs sacrifices, nor do they give gifts.
उच्छिन्नेषु च यज्ञेषु दानेषु नृपसत्तम 7.3.14.
When sacrifices and gifts are interrupted, O best of kings—
ज्ञात्वा यज्ञविघातं च तद्विघाताय वासवः
Knowing the obstruction of sacrifices, Indra acted to obstruct it.
तथापि संनिधौ तस्य सिद्धेशस्य नृपोत्तम
Yet, even in the presence of that Siddheśvara, O foremost of kings—
यस्तु माघचतुर्द्दश्यां सोमवारे नृपोत्तम
Whoever, on the fourteenth day of Māgha, on a Monday, O foremost of kings—
अद्यापि जायते सिद्धिः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
Even today, success arises; this is truth, as I have spoken.
यं दृष्ट्वा मानवः सद्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Upon seeing whom, a man is instantly freed from all sins.
दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान्पुरा देवैर्निर्जितान्नृपसत्तम
Having seen, the gods once defeated the Daityas, O best of kings.
कथं दैत्याः सुराञ्जित्वा प्राप्स्यंति च महायशः
How did the Daityas, after conquering the gods, attain great fame?
एवं स निश्चयं कृत्वा गतोऽर्बुदमथाचलम्
Thus, having made up his mind, he went to Arbuda mountain.
शिवलिंगं प्रतिष्ठाप्य धूपगंधानुलेपनैः
He established a Śiva-liṅga, with incense, fragrance, and ointments.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तुतोष भगवाञ्छिवः
Then, at the end of a thousand years, the blessed Shiva was satisfied.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
Choose a boon, auspicious one, even if it should be exceedingly difficult to obtain.
यया जीवंति संप्राप्ता मृत्युं संख्येपि जंतवः
By which, those beings who have attained it live on, even when death is counted among them.
अब्रवीच्च पुनः शुक्रं वरमन्यं वृणीष्व मे
And again he said to Shukra, 'Choose another boon from me.'
ततो लिंगं पूजयेच्च यः पुमाञ्छ्रद्धयान्वितः॥ 7.3.15.
Then, any man who worships the linga with faith—
अल्पमृत्युभयं तस्य मा भूत्तव प्रसादतः
By your grace, let him have little fear of death.
शुक्रोपि दानवान्संख्ये हतान्देवैरनेकशः
Even when the gods slew the Danavas many times in battle,
विद्यायाश्च प्रभावेन जीवयामास तान्मुनिः
By the power of his knowledge, the sage revived them.
तत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यक्पातकैश्च प्रमुच्यते
There, a man who bathes properly is freed from sins.
तर्पिताः सलिलेनैव किं पुनः पिंडदानतः
If they are satisfied with water alone, how much more so by the offering of rice-balls?
मणिकर्णिकसंज्ञं तु सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्
Indeed, the place called Manikarnika is renowned in all the worlds.
यत्र सिद्धिं गता राजन्वालखिल्या महर्षयः
There, O King, the great sages called the Valakhilyas attained perfection.
तेषां तत्रोपविष्टानां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
As those sages of purified minds sat there,
किरातवनिता काचिन्नाम्ना च मणिकर्णिका
A certain Kirata woman named Manikarnika,