व्यास उवाच धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि कृतकृत्योऽस्म्यहं मुने सर्वं च निष्फलं तस्य अयोध्यां नागतो यदि
Vyāsa said: I am blessed, I am favored, I am fulfilled, O sage; all is fruitless for one who has not gone to Ayodhya.
यस्मिन्मयि प्रसन्नेन त्वयोक्तो धर्मनिर्णयः त्वमपि व्रज विप्रेंद्र स्वमाश्रमपदं निजम्
By you, O great one, the decision on dharma has been declared to me with favor; now you too, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, go to your own hermitage.
जगाम तपसां राशिरगस्त्यः कुंभसंभवः
Agastya, the treasury of austerities, born from the pot, departed.
स्वमाश्रमपदं धीरो विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः
The steadfast sage, his eyes wide with wonder, returned to his own hermitage.
अयोध्यामागतो विप्रः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये
The brahmin came to Ayodhya to attain all desired aims and objects.
दृष्ट्वा महाश्चर्यकरं कारणं तीर्थमुत्तमम् 2.8.10.
Having seen the supreme holy place, the cause of great marvels,
ततो जगाम विप्रेंद्रः स्वमाश्रमपदं मुनिः
Then the foremost of brahmins, the sage, went to his own hermitage.
मया श्रुत्वा च माहात्म्यं यात्रां कृत्वा विधानतः
Having heard of its greatness from me and performed the pilgrimage according to rule,
इदं माहात्म्यमतुलं यः पठेत्प्रयतो नरः
Whoever, with devotion, recites this incomparable glory,
तस्मादेतत्प्रयत्नेन श्रोतव्यं च जनैः सदा
Therefore, this should always be listened to with effort by people.
दातव्यं च सुवर्णादि यथाशक्त्या द्विजन्मने
And gold and other gifts should be given to a twice-born according to one’s ability.
अतिविपुलविधानैर्वर्णितं धर्म्यमाद्यं कलयति परभक्त्या क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यमेतत्
Described with exceedingly ample injunctions, this original, righteous greatness of the field is realized through supreme devotion.
यः पाठकस्यापि कदाचिदेव ददाति वित्तं च यथात्मशक्त्या
Whoever, at any time, gives wealth to the reciter, according to his own ability,
दधानो दुस्तारं शिरसि फणिराजं शशिकलां प्रदीपः सर्वेषामरुणगिरियोगीविजयते
Victory to the yogi of Aruṇagiri, who bears the difficult-to-cross king of serpents on his head and the crescent moon as a lamp for all.
अरुणाचलमाहात्म्यं त्वत्तः शुश्रूषवो वयम्
We wish to hear from you the greatness of Aruṇācala.
तन्माहात्म्यं वदेत्युक्तः सूतः प्रोवाच तान्मुनीन् श्रीसूत उवाच एतदर्थं चतुर्वक्त्रं पप्रच्छ सनकः पुरा
When thus requested to tell that greatness, Sūta spoke to those sages: 'Long ago, Sanaka asked the four-faced one about this matter.'
शृणुतावहिता यूयं तद्वो वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम्
Listen attentively, all of you; I will now tell you.
सत्यलोके स्थितं पूर्वं ब्रह्माणं कमलासनम्
Formerly, Brahmā, the lotus-seated, resided in Satyaloka.
आसीदशेषविज्ञानं प्रसादाद्भवतो मम
Through your grace, all knowledge arose in me.
भवद्भक्तिविभूत्या मे शोधिते चित्तदर्पणे
By the glory of your devotion, my mind’s mirror was purified.
सारार्थं वेदवेदानां शिवज्ञानमनाकुलम्
The essential meaning of the Vedas and Vedāngas is the undisturbed knowledge of Śiva.
लिंगानि भुवि शैवानि दिव्यानि च कृपानिधे
The Śaiva liṅgas upon earth, and the divine ones as well, O ocean of mercy,
याल्लिङ्मममलं दिव्यमरिच्छेदनवैभवम्
That liṅga of mine, pure and divine, possessing the glory of unbroken radiance,
नामस्मरणमात्रेण यत्पातकविनाशनम्
By merely remembering its name, all sins are destroyed.
अनादिजगदाधारं यत्तेजः शैवमव्ययम्
That Śaiva brilliance of yours, the eternal support of the world, is imperishable.
इति भक्तिमतस्तस्य कौतूहलसमन्वितम्
Thus, filled with devotion and curiosity,
दध्यौ च सुचिरं शंभुं पंकजासनसंस्थितः
He meditated for a long time upon Śaṃbhu, seated upon the lotus throne.
दृष्ट्वा यदा पुरा दृष्टं तेजःस्तंभमयं शिवम्
When he saw, as before, the pillar of radiant light that was Śiva,
पुनराज्ञां शिवाल्लब्धामनुपालयितुं प्रभुः
Again, having received Śiva's command, the lord sought to obey it.
शिवदर्शनसंजातपुलकांकितविग्रहः
His body was marked with goosebumps, born from the vision of Śiva.