नो सिद्धोऽसौ यदा देवि तदा गंगामहत्तटम्
O Goddess, when that is not accomplished, then the great bank of the Ganga—
गोदावरीं भीमरथीं कौशिकीं शारदां शिवाम्
—the Godavari, the Bhimarathi, the Kaushiki, the Sharada, the auspicious one—
तीर्थं व्यर्थं तपो व्यर्थं तीर्थयात्राफलं यतः
—the pilgrimage is fruitless, the austerity is fruitless, and the result of pilgrimage is in vain.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
At that moment, O Goddess, a bodiless voice spoke.
प्रयागाद्यानि तीर्थानि पृथिव्यां यानि संति वै
All the sacred places on earth, beginning with Prayaga—
तत्रास्ते सुमहापुण्यं लिंगं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
—there abides a most holy linga, accomplishing all aims.
प्रसादात्तस्य लिंगस्य पुनर्यास्यसि शांकरम्
By the grace of that linga, you will again attain Shiva.
इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाणीमाकाशस्थां गणस्तदा 5.2.3.
Hearing that voice from the sky, the group then—
ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं सर्वसंपत्करं शुभम्
—saw there that auspicious linga, bestower of all prosperity.
लिंगमध्यात्ततो वाणी निःसृता पर्व तात्मजे
From the midst of the linga, then, a voice issued forth, O son of Parvati.
त्वत्पादपंकजे भूयाद्भक्तिर्मेऽविचला सदा
May my devotion to your lotus feet always remain unwavering.
वरमेनं प्रयच्छाशु यदि तुष्टो महेश्वरः
If you are pleased, O great Lord, quickly grant this boon.
ये च त्वां मानवा देव पश्यंति परमेश्वर
And those humans, O Supreme Lord, who see you—
ढुंढस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लिंगेनोक्तं यशस्विनि ते भविष्यंति सततं सदा पातकवर्जिताः
Hearing the words of Dhuṇḍha, spoken by the linga, O illustrious one, they will always remain free from great sins.
लप्स्यंति ते परान्कामान्भविष्यंति गणोत्तमाः
They will obtain supreme desires and become foremost among the hosts.
एवं लब्धवरो ढुंढः प्रांजलिः पुनरब्रवीत्
Thus, having received the boon, Dhuṇḍha, with joined palms, again spoke.
एवमस्त्विति लिंगेन प्रोक्तं तुष्टेन पार्वति
"So be it," was spoken by the linga, pleased, O Parvati.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सदा सिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्।। 5.2.3.
By whose mere sight, success always comes to people.
भक्त्या ये पूजयिष्यंति देवं ढुंढेश्वरं परम्
Those who worship the supreme Lord Dhundheshvara with devotion,
स एव सुकृती लोके स एव मम वल्लभः
He alone is virtuous in the world, he alone is dear to me.
राजसूयशतेनैव यत्पुण्यं च भविष्यति
The merit that arises from a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices,
मानसं वाचिकं वापि कायिकं गुह्यसंभवम् तत्सर्वं यास्यति क्षिप्रं ढुंढेश्वरस्य दर्शनात्
Mental, verbal, physical, or secret sins—all these quickly depart upon seeing Dhundheshvara.
इत्युक्तस्तु मया देवि स ढुंढो गणनायकः रेजे च गणपैः सार्द्धं ममाभीष्टतरोऽभवत्
Thus I spoke, O Devi; that Dhundha, leader of the hosts, shone together with the Ganas and became most pleasing to me.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
This, O Devi, has been told to you—the power that destroys sin.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच दृष्टे यस्मिञ्जगन्नाथे याति पापं च संक्षयम्
Sri Mahadeva said: When the Lord of the universe is seen, sin is destroyed.
पुरा वैवस्वते कल्पे रुरुर्नाम महासुरः बभूव सुमहाकायस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो भयंकरः
In the Vaivasvata cycle, there was a great demon named Ruru, immense in size, with sharp fangs and terrifying.
तेन देवाः स्वाधिकाराच्चालितास्त्रिदशाल यात्
By him, the gods were shaken from their positions and left the abode of the immortals.
ततो नीतं धनं तेषां ब्रह्माणं ते ततो ययुः
Then their wealth was taken away, and they went to Brahma.
ज्ञात्वावध्यं सुरैः सार्धं सर्वैः सोऽथमहा बलः ताञ्जघान स दुष्टात्मा ये चान्ये धर्मचारिणः
Knowing him to be invulnerable, together with all the gods, that mighty one, wicked in mind, slew those who were righteous and others as well.
निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं तदासीद्धरणीत तलम्
At that time, the earth was without recitation of scriptures or sacrificial exclamations.