गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं पुण्यं महाकालवनं शुभम्
The sacred Mahākāla forest is a holy place, more secret than the secret.
मम देहोद्भवा शिप्रा यत्र लीना पयस्विनी
There, the river Śiprā, born from my body, merges, rich in waters.
पुष्करं च गयातीर्थं पुरुषोत्तमसरः शुभम्
Puṣkara, Gayā's holy site, and the auspicious lake of Puruṣottama are there.
इति श्रुत्वा परं वाक्यं देवदेवजगद्गुरोः
Thus, hearing the supreme words of the Lord of gods, teacher of the world,
महाकालवने रम्ये यत्र शिप्रा सरिद्वरा
In the charming Mahākāla forest, where the excellent river Śiprā flows,
तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन स्वकाँल्लोकान्गताः सुराः 5.1.52.
By the power of that merit, the gods reached their own worlds.
जातं सरो वराहस्य विष्णोरतुलतेजसः
A lake was created by Varāha, whose energy is equal to Viṣṇu's.
अत्र स्नात्वा पयः पीत्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथोचितम्
Here, by bathing, drinking the water, and performing the śrāddha as prescribed,
अवंत्यां सुन्दरे तीर्थे तिष्ठंति सर्वदा भुवि
In Avanti, at the beautiful holy site, they always remain upon the earth.
सर्वपापप्रशमनं वांछितार्थफलप्रदम्
It removes all sins and grants the desired fruits of one's wishes.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या व्यपोहति
By merely hearing its name, even the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is dispelled.
पुरा कल्पक्षये व्यास नष्टकल्पा च मेदिनी
Once, at the end of a cycle, Vyāsa, the world and its cycles were destroyed.
तदात्र पतितं व्यास वैकुण्ठशिखरोत्तमम्
Then there fell here, O Vyasa, the most exalted peak of Vaikuntha.
तत्क्षणात्पतिते शृंगे कुण्डं जातं सुनिश्चितम्
At the very moment the peak fell, a pond certainly came into being.
जांबूनदकरारोहं हेमपद्मविराजितम्
It had golden steps and was adorned with lotus flowers of gold.
हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्
It was filled with swans and waterfowl, and beautified by chakravaka birds.
कल्पक्षये न क्षीयंते यानि तत्त्वानि सर्वशः 5.1.53.
At the end of a kalpa, all those principles do not perish at all.
वेदशास्त्रपुराणानि गाथागीतिक्षराक्षराः
The Vedas, scriptures, Puranas, verses, songs, and syllables—
कलाः काष्ठा मुहूर्ताश्च लवत्रुटिपलं घटिः
The divisions of time—kalas, kasthas, muhurtas, lavas, trutis, palas, and ghatis—
संवत्सरयुगाश्चैव कुण्डे तिष्ठंति मूर्तितः
The years and yugas as well, remain embodied in the pond.
गंधर्वाप्सरसो यक्षाः सिद्धाः किंपुरुषास्तथा
Gandharvas, apsaras, yakshas, siddhas, and also kimpurushas—
ब्रह्मा रुद्रश्च कालश्च लोकपाला महौजसः
Brahma, Rudra, Time, and the mighty guardians of the worlds—
तिष्ठंति बहुयुग व्यास यावत्कल्पः समाप्यते
They remain for many ages, O Vyasa, until the kalpa is completed.
दिव्यपादपसंयुक्तं पारिजातगुणान्वितम्
It is endowed with divine trees and possesses the qualities of the Parijata.
क्वचिन्मयूरा नृत्यंति क्वचित्कूजंति कोकिलाः
In some places peacocks dance, in others cuckoos sing.
सुन्दरं सुन्दराकारं सुन्दरं तेन चोच्यते
It is beautiful, of beautiful form, and therefore is called Beautiful.
यत्र संनिहितो विष्णुः शिवः शक्त्या युतो वशी 5.1.53.
There, Vishnu is present, along with Shiva, united with Shakti, the Lord.
पक्षार्धं पक्षमेकं च सुन्दरकुण्डे नरो वसेत्
For half a fortnight or a whole fortnight, a man may dwell at the Beautiful Pond.
पक्षिकीटपतंगाश्च मृता यांति शिवालयम्
Birds, insects, and moths that die there go to the abode of Shiva.
ये ददति तिलान्धेनुं गजवा जिरथावनीः
Those who give sesame, cows, elephants, horses, or land—