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.
इत्येवं रुद्रकोटीति नाम्ना शंभुरजायत
Thus, Śambhu arose there with the name 'Rudrakoṭi.'
रुद्रकोटिं समभ्यर्च्य जगाम कुरुजाङ्गलम्
Having worshipped Rudrakoṭi, he went to Kurujāṅgala.
सरस्वतीजले मग्नं ददर्श सुरपूजितम्
Immersed in the waters of the Sarasvatī, he saw it worshipped by the gods.
स्नात्वा दसाश्वमेधे च संपूज्य च सुरान् पितृन्
After bathing and honoring the gods and ancestors at Daśāśvamedha,
अभिवाद्य गुरुं शुक्रं सोमतीर्थं जगाम ह
Having bowed to his teacher Śukra, he went to Somatīrtha.
क्षीरिकावासमभ्येत्य स्नानं चक्रे महायशाः
Arriving at Kṣīrikāvāsa, the illustrious one performed his bath.
भूयः कुरुध्वजं दृष्ट्वा पद्माख्यां नगरी गतः
Again seeing Kurudhvaja, he went to the city called Padmā.
कुमारधारामभ्येत्य ददर्श स्वामिनं वशी
Coming to Kumāradhārā, the self-controlled one saw his Lord.
दृष्ट्वा स्कन्दं समभ्यर्च्य नर्मदायां जगाम ह
Having seen and worshipped Skanda, he went to the Narmadā.
जगाम भूधरं द्रष्टुं वाराहं चक्रधारिणम्
He went to the mountain to see Varāha, the bearer of the discus.