कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा भवभक्त्यानुभावितः
With palms joined in reverence, imbued with devotion to Bhava.
महाकालस्य माहात्म्यं प्राणिनां मोहनाशनम्
The greatness of Mahakala destroys the delusion of living beings.
भगवन्क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं महाकालस्य कथ्यताम्
O Lord, tell of the sanctity of Mahakala's field.
फलं यथात्र वसतां मृतानां च गतिर्यथा
What is the fruit for those who dwell here, and what is the fate of the dead?
कथमेतत्स्मशानं च क्षेत्रं प्रोक्तं यथा तथा
How did this cremation ground come to be called a sacred field, and in what manner?
यस्मात्स्थानं च मातॄणां पीठं तेनैव कथ्यते ।। 5.1.1.
For what reason is it also called the seat of the Mothers? Tell this as well.
मृताः पुनर्न जायंते तेनेदमूषरं स्मृतम्
The dead are not born again; therefore, this place is known as 'barren.'
यस्मादिष्टं हि भूतानां स्मशानमतिवल्लभम्
Because the cremation ground is especially dear to beings.
एकाम्रकं भद्रकालं करवीरवनमेव च
Ekāmra, Bhadrakāla, and also the Karavīra forest.
भरथं चैव केदारं दिव्यं रुद्रमहालयम्
Bharata, Kedāra, and the divine great abode of Rudra.
रमते भगवानेषु सिद्धक्षेत्रेषु सर्वदा
The Blessed Lord always delights in these accomplished sacred places.
त्रयाणामपि लोकानां कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रशस्यते
Of all three worlds, Kurukshetra is praised.
तस्या दशगुणं व्यास महाकालवनोत्तमम्
O Vyasa, Mahakalavana is ten times greater than that.
प्रभासमुत्तमं तीर्थं क्षेत्रमाद्यं पिनाकिनः
Prabhasa is the supreme holy place, the foremost field of the wielder of the bow Pinaka.
तस्मादप्युत्तमं व्यास पुण्या वाराणसी मता
Therefore, Vyasa, Varanasi is considered even more excellent and holy than that.
महाकालवनं गुह्यं सिद्धक्षेत्रं तथोषरम् 5.1.1.
The Mahakala forest is secret, a field of accomplished beings, and also a place of dryness.
सर्वतस्तु समाख्यातं महाकालवनं मुने
O sage, the Mahakala forest has been described in its entirety from every side.
पंचैकत्र न लभ्यंते महाकालपुरादृते
The five are not found together anywhere except in Mahakala city.
नाग्निर्न वायुरादित्यो न भूमिर्न दिशो नभः
There is neither fire nor wind, neither sun nor earth, neither directions nor sky.
न नक्षत्राणि न ज्योतिर्न द्यौर्नेंदुर्ग्रहा स्तथा
There are neither stars nor light, neither heaven nor planets, nor even the moon.
सरांसि नैव गिरयो नापगा नाब्धयस्तथा
There are neither lakes nor mountains, nor rivers, nor oceans.
तदैको हि महाकालो लोकानुग्रहकारणात्
Then only Mahakala existed, for the purpose of benefitting the worlds.
सृष्ट्यर्थं स महाकालः करे कामं प्रतिष्ठितम्
For the sake of creation, Mahakala established desire in his hand.
कललं बुद्बुदं भूत्वा तविवेगविवर्द्धितम्
Becoming a globule, a bubble, it grew by his force and energy.
करेण ताडितं तद्धि बभूव द्विदलं महत्
Struck by his hand, it became a great two-lobed form.
मध्येऽभवत्तदा ब्रह्मा पंचवक्त्रश्चतुर्भुजः
In the middle, Brahma appeared, with five faces and four arms.
कुरु सृष्टिं महाबाहो विचित्रां मदनुग्रहात्
Create a wondrous creation, O mighty-armed one, by my favor.
प्रेर्यमाणोऽपि वै स्रष्टुं ब्रह्मा देवमचिंतयत् 5.1.2.
Even when prompted to create, Brahma did not consider the gods.
ब्रह्मणस्तपसा दृष्टः प्रादाद्वेदं षडंगकम्
Seen through Brahma's austerity, he gave the six-limbed Veda.
तपसाऽतिष्ठदा भूयः समाराधयितुं भवम्
He remained in austerity again, to worship Bhava.