देव दारुवने पूर्वं विप्रा योगसमन्विताः
Formerly, in the Daru forest, there were Brāhmaṇas endowed with yoga.
शाकाहारा निराहाराः पर्णाहारास्तथापरे
Some subsisted on vegetables, some on nothing, and others on leaves.
केचिद्वीरासनरता धूम्रपानरताः परे
Some delighted in the hero's posture, others in drinking smoke.
कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणादीनि कुर्वन्त्यन्ये समाहिताः
Others, composed, performed rigorous vows like Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa.
दुःखार्त्ताश्चिंतयामासुः कथं सिद्धिर्भविष्यति
Afflicted by suffering, they pondered, 'How will perfection be attained?'
व्यर्था श्रुतिस्तथा जाता या गीता मुनिभिः पुरा
Thus, the scripture once sung by the sages became fruitless.
अंजनं गुटिका चैव पादुकागमनं तथा
Collyrium, pills, and also walking with sandals,
एवं तेऽचिंतयसिद्धाः परमामर्षपूरिताः
In this way, they, accomplished in thought, were filled with intense indignation.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी 5.2.11.
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke.
माऽवमन्यध्वमार्या हि श्रुतिर्व्यर्था महीतले
Do not disregard, O noble ones, that the scripture is fruitless on earth.
भविता भवतां सिद्धिरत्र नैव तपोधनाः
Perfection will come to you here, ascetics.
कामाच्च तपसो हानिरहंकाराच्च विस्मयः
From desire comes the loss of austerity, and from ego, astonishment.
स्पर्द्धया रहितो यस्तु कामक्रोधविवर्जितः
He who is free from rivalry and devoid of desire and anger,
वासनावासितो यस्तु एकचित्तः समाहितः
He who is guided by pure intention, single-minded and composed,
मातृवत्परदाराणि परद्रव्याणि लोष्टवत्
Who regards the wives of others as mothers, and the wealth of others as mere clods of earth,
ईदृशे पुरुषे विप्रास्तपःसिद्धिश्च दृश्यते
In such a person, O Brahmins, both ascetic power and success are seen.
तस्माद्वर्षसहस्रेण नैव सिद्धिर्भविष्यति
Therefore, even in a thousand years, perfection will not arise otherwise.
महाकालवनं गत्वा यूयं सर्वे समाहिताः
Go all of you, with focused minds, to the great Kāla forest.
दर्शनात्तस्य देवस्य लभ्यते सिद्धिरुत्तमा पूजयित्वापि भावेन संसिद्धिं परमां गताः ।। 5.2.11.
By seeing that god, supreme accomplishment is attained; and by worshipping with devotion, they reached the highest perfection.
राज्ञा वसुमता पूर्वं खङ्गसिद्धिः सुदुर्लभा
Formerly, even for King Vasumat, mastery of the sword was very difficult to obtain.
पादुकागमनं लब्धं हैहयेन महात्मना
The great-souled Haihaya obtained the power to travel by sandals.
अदृश्यकरणं चैव प्राप्तं चानूरुणा पुरा अंजनं च तथा लब्धं लिंगस्यास्य च दर्शनात्
Anūruṇa in ancient times attained invisibility, and likewise obtained collyrium by seeing this liṅga.
आकाशवचनं श्रुत्वा ते सिद्धा विस्मयान्विताः
Hearing the voice from the sky, those perfected beings were filled with wonder.
सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं चैव ददृशुर्लिंगमुत्तमम्
They saw the supreme liṅga, bestower of all accomplishments.
ततःप्रभृति विख्यातो देवैः सिद्धेश्वरः परः न तेषां दुर्लभा सिद्धिर्भविष्यति महीतले
From then on, the supreme Lord of Siddhas became renowned among the gods; for them, accomplishment on earth will not be difficult.
सिद्धेश्वरं गमिष्यंति भावहीनाः प्रसंगतः
Those lacking devotion, approaching out of mere association, will go to Siddheśvara.
महापातकसंयुक्तो यस्तु सिद्धेश्वरं स्मरेत्
Even one joined with great sins, if he remembers Siddheśvara,
नियमेन तु यः पश्येद्देवं सिद्धेश्वरं परम्
But he who beholds the supreme god Siddheśvara with discipline,
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्द्दश्यां कृष्णपक्षे विशेषतः 5.2.11.
Especially on the eighth and fourteenth days of the dark fortnight,
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं निर्धनस्तु धनं लभेत्
A childless man obtains a son, and a poor man gains wealth.