यश्चैतच्छृणुयान्नित्यं पठेद्वा सुसमाहितः
Whoever listens to this daily or recites it with concentration,
कोटीश्वरं किमर्थं तु पावकं तत्किमुच्यते
For what reason is Koṭīśvara called so, and why is he associated with fire?
नरदीपं किमर्थं तु द्वितीया वटमातरः
For what reason is Nara-dīpa so named, and why is the second called Vaṭa-mātaraḥ?
शूलेश्वरं किमर्थं तु किमोंकारस्तु कथ्यते
For what reason is Śūleśvara so named, and why is Oṃkāra mentioned?
पुरी चोज्जयिनी दिव्या सप्तकल्पा कथं स्मृता
How is the divine city of Ujjayinī remembered as Saptakalpā?
नामतः कर्मतः श्रेष्ठा सप्तकल्पानुवासिनी
By name and by deed, she is foremost, dwelling through seven aeons.
प्राक्कल्पे स्वर्णशृंगाख्या द्वितीये तु कुशस्थली
In the former aeon, she was known as Svarṇaśṛṅgā; in the second, as Kuśasthalī.
विख्याता पञ्चमे कल्पे पुरी चूडामणीति च
In the fifth aeon, the city was renowned as Cūḍāmaṇi.
पुनरंते तु कल्पस्य स्वर्णशृङ्गादि का स्मृता
At the end of the kalpa, the mountain called Suvarṇaśṛṅga and others are remembered.
सप्तजन्मकृतात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
One is freed from sins accumulated over seven lifetimes; there is no doubt about this.
तस्य पुत्रो महावीर्यो नाम्ना कनकदानवः 5.1.36.
His son, of great valor, was named Kanakadānava.
क्रोधादिंद्रेण संग्रामे युध्य मानो निपातितः
Fighting in battle with Indra, who was angry, he was struck down.
जगाम शंकरान्वेषी कैलासं शंकरालयम्
He went, seeking Śaṃkara, to Kailāsa, the abode of Śaṃkara.
भीतो विज्ञापयामास स चाश्र्वाकुललोचनः
Frightened, with eyes filled with tears, he began to entreat.
शक्रस्येत्थं वचः श्रुत्वा शरणा गतवत्सलः
Having heard these words of Śakra, the Lord, compassionate to those who seek refuge, acted thus.
कृत्वा रूपं महादेवो विश्वरूपं सुभैरवम्
Mahādeva, having assumed a universal and most terrifying form, appeared.
पातालोदररूपैश्च भैरवारावनादिभिः
With forms such as those of Bhairava, Arāvaṇa, and others, resembling beings of the netherworld.
सिंहचर्मपरीधानं व्याघ्रत्वगुत्तरीयकम्
Clad in a lion's skin, with an upper garment of tiger hide.
महामहीध्रतुल्याभ्यां जंघाभ्यां भूषितं सदा
Ever adorned with thighs like great mountains.
ईदृग्रूपं विधायेशो दनुदैत्यभयावहम्
Having assumed such a form, the Lord became the remover of the fear of Danu and the demons.
तत्रैव हि ह्रदो जातः सर्वदैवतवंदितः 5.1.36.
There itself, a lake arose, always worshipped by all the gods.
पापानां च पुरा कोटिः पादांगुष्ठेन दारिता
Formerly, a crore of sins was split apart by the big toe.
अगस्त्येन तथा कोटिस्तीर्थानामवधारिता
Likewise, by Agastya, a crore of sacred bathing places was established.
दृष्ट्वा तु त्रिदशाः सर्वे स्नाता वै हितकाम्यया
Having seen this, all the gods, desiring welfare, bathed there.
अंधासुरोऽपि दनुजः पुत्रं श्रुत्वा हतं युधि
The blind Asura, too, upon hearing that his son had been slain in battle,
ससैन्यो निर्गतः प्राप्तो यत्र ते त्रिदशाः स्थिताः
Set out with his army and reached the place where those gods stood.
तदैव दानवान्वीक्ष्य महाहवकृतोद्यमान्
At that moment, seeing the demons preparing for a great battle,
मा भैरिति महाकालो देवानुक्त्वा त्रिलोचनः
Mahākāla, the three-eyed one, said to the gods, 'Do not be afraid.'
कोपयुक्ते विरूपाक्षे ज्वालाभिः पूरितं नभः
In his wrathful, deformed eye, the sky was filled with flames.
मुक्ता जगाम देवानां ननाश शलभाकृति
He released it; it went toward the gods and perished like a moth.