देवीमुज्जयनीं भक्त्या यः पश्यति समाहितः
who, with a concentrated mind, beholds the goddess Ujjayinī with devotion,
विशालां चैव यः पश्येद्रुद्रभक्त्या समाहितः
and whoever beholds Viśālā with devotion to Rudra and a focused mind,
अकूरेश्वरमित्याख्यं यत्र सिद्धः पितामहः
where Akūreśvara is named, where the accomplished Pitāmaha (Brahmā) resides,
तत्र देवार्चनं कृत्वा कृष्णाष्टम्यामुपोषितः
there, having performed worship of the gods on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī while fasting,
न वदेत्केनचित्सार्धं नरः प्रातर्गृहे स्थितः
a man, remaining at home in the morning, should not speak with anyone.
मुच्यते पातकाद्धोराद्ब्रह्मलोकं मृतो व्रजेत्
He is freed from terrible sin and, upon death, goes to the world of Brahmā.
पद्मासनस्थितो ब्रह्मा ध्यायमानः परं पदम्
Brahmā, seated on a lotus, contemplates the supreme state.
पितरो ये च लोकानां पूज्यंते भुवि मानवैः ।। 5.1.26.
And the ancestors of the worlds, who are honored on earth by men.
ग्रहार्कतारका यक्षा दिग्गजाश्च्यानलानिलाः
Planets, the sun, stars, yakshas, guardians of the directions, fire, and wind—
कथं ध्यायसि देवेश एतत्सर्वं ब्रवीहि नः
How do you meditate, O Lord of the gods? Tell us all this.
ते द्वे च मम रूपे द्वे नित्ये मूर्तात्मिके मम
There are two forms of mine, both eternal and embodying my essence.
येनास्माकं परा सिद्धिर्जायते तव दर्शनात्
By whose sight, supreme accomplishment arises for us.
यज्ञार्थिना मया देवः श्रीकंठः पार्वती पतिः
For the sake of sacrifice, Śrīkaṇṭha, husband of Pārvatī, was requested by me.
याचितस्तेन देवेन उक्तोऽहं परमेष्ठिना
By that god, I was addressed by Parameṣṭhin.
मया दत्तं तव विभो महाकालवनादृते कपर्दिना च तत्रोक्तो यास्यामो न तवांतिकम्
I granted you, O Lord, except for the Mahākāla forest; and Kapardin said there, 'We will not come near you.'
आरब्धो वै ततो यज्ञो नारायणपरिग्रहात्
Then the sacrifice was begun, with Nārāyaṇa as the presiding deity.
यज्ञवाटं कपर्दीशस्ततो भिक्षार्थमागतः
Kapardin came to the sacrificial enclosure seeking alms.
कपर्दिना च ते तत्र उक्ता यास्याम्यहं पुनः 5.1.26.
There, Kapardin said to you, 'I will go again.'
स्नातुं नदीं ययौ शिप्रां कपर्दी परमेश्वरः
Kapardin, the supreme lord, went to the river Śiprā to bathe.
कथं हि क्रियते होमः कपाले सदसि स्थिते
How can the offering be made in the assembly when the skull is present?
तत्कपालं सदस्येन उक्षिप्तं पाणिना स्वयम्
That skull was thrown by the assembly member himself with his hand.
एवं नांतं कपालानां प्राप्यते मुनिसत्तमाः
Thus, O best of sages, the end of the skulls is not attained.
ततः स दर्शनं प्रादाद्भक्त्या तुष्टो महेश्वरः
Then Maheśvara, pleased by devotion, granted a vision.
वरं वरय भो ब्रह्मन्यत्ते मनसि वर्तते
Choose a boon, O Brahman, whatever abides in your mind.
ब्रह्मोत्तरमिदं स्थानं मया दत्तं चतुर्मुख
This supreme place of Brahma I have given to you, O four-faced one.
एवं वदंतं वरदमीशानं परमेश्वरम् ।। तथेति चोक्त्वा सदसि न मयाऽन्यो वरो वृतः
Thus, as Parameśvara, the boon-giver, was speaking, I said in the assembly, 'No other boon was chosen by me.'
उज्जयिनीति वै नाम कुशस्थल्या निवेशितम्
Ujjayinī is the name of a settlement established in Kuśasthalī.
तत्र विप्राः कृते स्नाने सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते 5.1.26.
There, a Brāhmaṇa who bathes is freed from all sins.
सतिलास्तान्सवस्त्रांश्च सफलान्मंडकैः सह
Sesame seeds, garments, and fruits together with cakes,
प्रथमं च ऋग्वेदाय यजुर्वेदाय दक्षिणम्
First, offer to the Ṛgveda and to the Yajurveda as a gift.