नियमेन प्रपश्यंति ये देवं कर्कटेश्वरम्
Those who regularly behold the god Karkaṭeśvara,
सूर्यदीप्तिप्रतीकाशैर्विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः
With celestial chariots shining like the sun, fulfilling all desires,
तत्र दिव्यैर्महाभोगैः स्त्रीसहस्रैर्मनोरमैः
There, with divine, great enjoyments and thousands of delightful women,
तदंते विष्णुभवने तावत्कालं च संति हि
At the end of that, they remain in the abode of Viṣṇu for that period of time.
विष्णुलोकाद्ब्रह्मलोकं संप्राप्य मुदिताः पुनः
Having joyfully reached Brahmā’s world from Viṣṇu’s world,
दशाश्वमैधैर्यत्पुण्यं तत्फलं तीर्थयात्रया
The merit of performing the ten-horse sacrifice is gained by pilgrimage to holy places.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण प्राप्यते सर्वसिद्धयः
By merely seeing him, all accomplishments are attained.
राजमूला महादेवि योगक्षेमाः सुवृष्टयः
O great goddess, at the root of the king are prosperity, security, and good rains.
राजा कृतं तथा त्रेता द्वापरश्च तथा कलिः
The king existed in Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and likewise in Kali.
राजा बभूव लोकेऽस्मिन्मदांधोनाम पार्वति
O Pārvatī, in this world there was a king named Madāndha.
कलि द्वापरयोः संधौ तस्य दोषाच्च भामिनि
O beautiful one, at the junction of Kali and Dvāpara, due to his fault,
न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षः प्रतिलोमोऽभवत्प्रभुः
The thousand-eyed lord did not send rain and became contrary in his actions.
नद्यः संक्षिप्ततोयौघाः क्वचिदंतर्हितास्तदा
The rivers then had diminished flows, and some disappeared entirely.
उच्छिन्नकृषि गोरक्षा निवृत्तविपणास्तथा
Agriculture and cattle-keeping were destroyed, and markets ceased as well.
शून्यभूयिष्ठनगरा दग्धग्रामनिवेशिनः
Cities became mostly empty, and villages were burned down.
आश्रमान्संपरित्यज्य पर्यधावन्नितस्ततः 5.2.23.
Abandoning their hermitages, they wandered here and there.
सूष्टिरुन्मूलिता सर्वा जंगमा स्थावराखिला
All creation, both moving and unmoving, was uprooted.
शरण्यं शरणं जग्मुर्देवदेवं जनार्दनम्
They went for refuge to Janārdana, the god of gods, the shelter of all.
ब्रह्मलोकादिभिर्लोकैरनौपम्यगुणं शुभम्
From Brahmā’s world and the other worlds, they approached him, whose virtues are incomparable and auspicious.
स्वेच्छाकल्पितवि न्यासप्रासादशयनासनम्
He had a palace, bed, and seat created by his own will.
जरामृत्युभयोपेतसर्वव्याधिविवर्जितम् साष्टांगां प्रणतिं कृत्वा ते देवाः स्तुतिमब्रुवन्
Free from old age, death, fear, and all diseases, having made full prostration, the gods spoke this praise.
भवान्ब्रह्मा च रुद्रश्च महेंद्रो देवसत्तमः
You are Brahmā, Rudra, and the great Indra, O best of gods.
एवं च सत्यं परमं तपश्च परमं तथा १७ [ एवं स्तुतस्तदा तैस्तु देवदेवो वरानने
Thus, truth is supreme, and so is austerity; at that time, praised in this way by them, the god of gods, O beautiful-faced one—
प्राह देवांस्ततः कृष्णः किं करोम्यद्य वः सुराः
Then Krishna spoke to the gods: 'What shall I do for you today, O gods?'
उपायः कथ्यतां देव तुष्टिः धुष्टिर्यथा भवेत् 5.2.23.
'Let the means be told, O god, by which satisfaction or dissatisfaction may arise.'
गच्छध्वं त्रिदशाः सर्वे महाकालवने शुभे
'All you gods, go to the auspicious great Kālavan forest.'
मेघा वृष्टिकराः सर्वे तस्मिँल्लिंगे च संति वै
'There, all the clouds that bring rain are indeed present in that liṅga.'
प्रतीहारेश्वराद्देवादीशाने विद्यते सुराः
'From the god Pratīhāreśvara, O gods, Īśāna is present.'
महाकालवने प्राप्ता यत्रास्ते लिंगमुत्तमम्
'Arriving at the great Kālavan, where the supreme liṅga abides—'
नमस्तेऽस्तु महेशाय नमोऽनंताय मालिने
'Obeisance to Maheśa, obeisance to the endless one, the garlanded.'