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.
ब्रह्मोवाच नमः शिवायामलसत्त्वचेतसे गुणत्रयातीतविसारितेजसे
Brahma said: Salutations to Shiva, whose nature is pure consciousness, who transcends the three qualities, whose radiance is boundless.
नमोऽ स्तु ते सृष्टिविधौ रजोजुषे जगत्स्थितौ सत्त्वमधिष्ठिताय ते
Salutations to you, who delight in creation through rajas, and who preside over the world's maintenance through sattva.
अशेषभूतप्रकृतेः परा य वै परात्मरूपाय नमः शिवाय वै
Homage to Śiva, who is the supreme Self, transcending all elements and nature.
भूतोयवह्न्यम्बरवायुचंद्रसूर्यात्मरूपाभिरिदं तनूभिः
With forms as earth, water, fire, space, wind, moon, and sun, he embodies all these bodies.
यानीह तेजांसि जगंति यानि भूतानि भव्यान्यथ कारणानि
All the lights here, all worlds, all beings, all that will be, and all causes—
अन्तर्हित उवाचेदं ब्रह्मन्संयाच्यतां वरः
The hidden one spoke: 'O Brahman, ask for your boon.'
स वव्रे मनसा पुत्रं भवं गौरवकारणात्
He desired, in his mind, a son—Bhava—out of reverence.
यस्मान्मां मनसा पुत्रं चतुर्मुख समीहसे 5.1.2.
Because you seek me as a son in your mind, O Four-faced one,
अयाच्यं याचितं यस्मान्ममांशो नीललोहितः
Since what should not be asked has been asked, my portion, Nīlalohita, will be yours.
अन्यद्यस्मात्स्मृतो भक्त्या त्वयाहं पितृभावतः
Because you have remembered me with devotion as a father,