पुरा वाराहकल्पे तु देवर्षिर्नारदोऽमलः
In the ancient Varaha Kalpa, the pure devarshi Narada,
तत्रोद्यानवने रम्ये कल्पवृक्षैर्विराजिते
In that beautiful garden and grove, adorned with wish-fulfilling trees,
वीणावेणुरवैर्घुष्टे देवगंधर्वसेविते
Resounding with the music of veena and flute, attended by gods and gandharvas,
ब्रह्मलोकादिभिर्लोकैरनौपम्यगुणे शुभे स्तूयमानं मुदा देवैः सि द्धचारणकिन्नरैः
Praised joyfully by gods, siddhas, charanas, and kinnaras, in the auspicious realms such as Brahmaloka, possessing incomparable qualities,
पृष्टस्तु नारदो देवि वासवेन महामुनिः
Narada, the great sage, was questioned by Vasava, O Devi,
महाकालवनं रम्यं सदानंदकरं शुभम्
The delightful Mahakala forest, always bringing joy and auspiciousness,
पुण्यं पश्यंति ये लोका महाकालवनं शुभम्
Those worlds that see the holy Mahakala forest,
स्वयं तिष्ठति देवोऽत्र सर्वभूतगणैर्वृतः
Here the god himself stands, surrounded by all groups of beings.
पृथिव्यां नैमिषं पुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् 5.2.7.
On earth, Naimisha is holy and destroys all sins.
ततो दशगुणं प्रोक्तं प्रयागं सर्वकामिकम्
After that, Prayaga is declared ten times greater, fulfilling all desires.
प्राची सरस्वती पुण्या तस्माद्दशगुणा स्मृता
The sacred Sarasvati flows eastward and is therefore remembered as ten times more virtuous.
तस्माद्दशगुणं देवि कुरुक्षेत्रं विशिष्यते
Therefore, O Devi, Kurukshetra is regarded as ten times greater.
तस्या दशगुणं श्रेष्ठं महाकालं विशिष्यते
And Mahakala is considered ten times superior to that.
षष्टि कोटिसहस्राणि षष्टिकोटिशतानि च
Sixty thousand crores and sixty hundred crores,
शक्तयो नव कोट्यस्तु तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे वसन्ति हि
Nine crore powers reside in that field.
कृमिकीटपतंगाश्च मृता यत्र ततः क्रतौ माहात्म्यमद्भुतं श्रुत्वा नारदात्सुरसत्तमः
Where worms, insects, and flying creatures die, then in sacrifice—having heard the wondrous glory from Narada, the best among gods,
सर्वदेव गणैः सार्द्धमाजगाम त्वरान्वितः १- त्रिविष्टपादप्यधिकं प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं स्मृतम्
He arrived swiftly together with all the hosts of gods; it is remembered as even greater than heaven and imperishable even at dissolution.
विचित्राणि च हर्म्याणि कांचनानि शुभानि च 5.2.7.
There were marvelous mansions, golden and auspicious.
वज्रेंद्रनीलरचिताः शुद्धस्फटिकसंनिभाः दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं रम्यं महाकालवनोत्तमम्
Adorned with diamonds and sapphires, resembling pure crystal; seeing such delightful Mahakalavana,
नारदं प्रशशंसुस्ते सर्वे देवा मुदान्विताः
All the gods, filled with joy, praised Narada.
न कैलासं गमिष्यामो न च मेरुं तथाविधम्
We shall not go to Kailasa, nor to Meru, such as that.
एषामरावती श्रेष्ठा ह्येषा भोगवती शुभा
This is our supreme Amaravati, this is our auspicious Bhogavati.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि शून्यं जातं त्रिविष्टपम् गमनाय मतिं चक्रे कृत्वा देहमथात्मनः
Meanwhile, O Devi, heaven became empty; having resolved to depart, he abandoned his body.
त्यक्त्वा मां त्रिदशाः सर्वे महाकालवनं गताः
Having left me, all the gods went to Mahakalavana.
इत्युक्त्वा तत्क्षणं प्राप्तो महाकालवनोत्तमे ददर्श रमणीयं तैर्देवैः परिवृतं तदा
Having said this, he arrived at the excellent Mahakalavana at that very moment, and saw it surrounded by those gods, delightful.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी कर्कोटकस्य पूर्वे तु महामायाश्च दक्षिणे
At that very time, a bodiless voice spoke: to the east of Karkotaka and to the south of Mahamaya.
इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन हृष्टस्तद्गतचेतसा
Thus addressed by the Lord of gods, he rejoiced, his mind absorbed in that.
पूजयित्वा शुभैः पुष्पैरुवाचेदं वरानने 5.2.7.
Having worshipped with auspicious flowers, he spoke to the lovely-faced one.
ये त्वां पश्यंति यत्नेन अपि दुष्कृत कारिणः
Even those who commit evil deeds, if they strive to see you,
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्द्दश्यां संक्रांतौ वा विशेषतः
Especially on the eighth or fourteenth day, or at the time of a transit,