दर्शनार्थ ययौ श्रीमान् अजितं पुरुषोत्तमम्
For the sake of seeing, the illustrious one went to Ajita, the Supreme Person.
षड्रात्रमुष्य तत्रैव महेन्द्रं दक्षिणं ययौ
He stayed there for six nights, then went to southern Mahendra.
दृष्ट्वार्च्य संपूज्य पितॄन् महेन्द्रं चोत्तरं गतः
Having seen, worshipped, and honored the ancestors, he went to northern Mahendra.
तत्र देववरं शंभुं गोपालं सोमपायिनम्. दृष्ट्वा स्नात्वा सोमतीर्थे सह्याचलमुपागतः
There, having seen and bathed at Soma-tīrtha, he approached Sahya mountain, after seeing the excellent god Śambhu, Gopāla, and the drinker of Soma.
सुरान् पितृन् समभ्यर्च्य पारियात्रं गिरिं गतः
Having worshipped the gods and ancestors, he went to the Pāriyātra mountain.
कशेरुदेशं चाभयेत्य विश्वरूपं ददर्श सः
Having reached the region of Kaśeru, he saw Viśvarūpa.
विश्वरूपमथात्मानं दर्शयामास योगवित्
Then the knower of yoga revealed himself as Viśvarūpa.
जगामाद्रिं स सौगन्धि प्रह्लादो मलायाचलम्
Prahāda went to the fragrant mountain, Malaya.
ततो जगाम योगात्मा द्रष्टुं विन्ध्ये सदाशिवम्
Then, the yogic soul went to see Sadashiva on the Vindhya mountain.
त्रिरात्रं समुपोष्याथ अवन्तीं नगरीं ययो
After fasting for three nights, he proceeded to the city of Avanti.
श्मशानस्थं ददर्शाथ महाकालवपुर्धरम्
There he saw Mahakala, bearing a body, dwelling in the cremation ground.
तामसं रूपमास्थाय संहारं कुरुते वशी
Assuming a dark form, the Lord of restraint performs destruction.
रक्षितस्त्वन्तकं दग्ध्वा सर्वबूतापहारिणम्
Having burned Antaka, the taker of all beings, he was protected.
वृतः प्रमथकोटीभिर्बहुभिस्त्रिदशार्चितः
Surrounded by countless Pramathas and worshipped by many gods.
यमसंयमनं मृत्योर्मृत्युं चित्रविचित्रकम्
He beheld Yama, the restrainer, Death's death, wondrous and marvelous.
पूजयित्वा शूलधरं जगाम निषधान् प्रति
After worshipping the wielder of the trident, he went towards Nishadha.
महोदयं समभ्येत्य हयग्रीवं ददर्श सः
Reaching Mahodaya, he saw Hayagriva there.
श्रीधरं चैव संपूज्य पञ्चालविषयं ययौ
Having also worshipped Shridhara, he went to the land of Panchala.
पाञ्चालिकं वशी दृष्ट्वा प्रयागं परतो ययौ
Seeing the lord of Panchala, the self-controlled one then went to Prayaga.
दृष्ट्वा वटेश्वरं रुद्रं माधवं योगशायिनम्
There he saw Vatishvara Rudra and Madhava, who rests in yoga.
माघमासमथोपोष्य ततो वाराणसीं गतः
After fasting in the month of Magha, he then went to Varanasi.
सर्वपापहराद्येषु स्नात्वार्ऽच्य पितृदेवताः
Bathing at the most sin-removing places, he worshipped the ancestors and the gods.
लोलं दिवाकरं दृष्ट्वा ततो मधुवनं ययौ
Seeing the restless Sun, he then went to Madhuvana.
तमभ्यर्च्य महातेजाः पुष्करारण्यमागमत्
Having worshipped him, the great radiant one reached the forest of Pushkara.
पुष्कराक्षमयोगन्धि ब्रह्माणं चाप्यपूजयत्
At Pushkara, fragrant with sandalwood, he also worshipped Brahma.
कोटितीर्थे रुद्रकोटिं ददर्श वृषभध्वजम्
At Kotitirtha, he saw Rudra of countless forms, the one with the bull-banner.
धर्मारण्याः पौष्करेया दण्डकारण्यकास्तथा
From Dharmāraṇya, Pauṣkara, and Daṇḍakāraṇya as well,
ते तत्र शङ्करं द्रष्टुं समायाता द्विजातयः
Those twice-born ones gathered there to see Śaṅkara.
अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमित्येवं वादिनो मुन्
Saying, 'I first, I first,' thus they argued, O sage.
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थं कोटिमूर्त्तिरभूद् भवः
For their sake, out of compassion, Bhava became of countless forms.