The Greatness of Varanasi (Avimukta)

Verse 1 (padma.3.33.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । वाराणस्याश्च माहात्म्यं संक्षेपात्कथितं त्वया । विस्तरेण मुने ब्रूहि तदा प्रीणाति मे मनः ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca vārāṇasyāśca māhātmyaṁ saṁkṣepātkathitaṁ tvayā vistareṇa mune brūhi tadā prīṇāti me manaḥ

Yudhishthira said: You have told me the greatness of Varanasi in brief; tell it now in full detail, O sage — only then will my mind be satisfied.

Verse 2 (padma.3.33.2)

नारद उवाच । अत्रेतिहासं वक्ष्यामि वाराणस्या गुणाश्रयम् । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया ।

nārada uvāca atretihāsaṁ vakṣyāmi vārāṇasyā guṇāśrayam yasya śravaṇamātreṇa mucyate brahmahatyayā

Narada said: Here I shall relate a story that embodies the virtues of Varanasi, by merely hearing which a man is freed even from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 3 (padma.3.33.3)

मेरुशृंगे पुरा देवमीशानं त्रिपुरद्विषम् । देवासनगता देवी महादेवमपृच्छत ।

meruśṛṁge purā devamīśānaṁ tripuradviṣam devāsanagatā devī mahādevamapṛcchata

Long ago, on the peak of Meru, the Goddess, seated upon her divine seat, questioned Ishana Mahadeva, the destroyer of Tripura.

Verse 4 (padma.3.33.4)

देव्युवाच । देवदेव महादेव भक्तानामार्तिनाशन । कथं त्वां पुरुषो देवमचिरादेव पश्यति ।

devyuvāca devadeva mahādeva bhaktānāmārtināśana kathaṁ tvāṁ puruṣo devamacirādeva paśyati

The Goddess said: O god of gods, Mahadeva, destroyer of your devotees' suffering! By what means can a man swiftly behold you, the divine one?

Verse 5 (padma.3.33.5)

सांख्ययोगस्तथा ध्यानं कर्मयोगोऽथ वैदिकः । आयासबहुला लोके यानि चान्यानि शंकर ।

sāṁkhyayogastathā dhyānaṁ karmayogo'tha vaidikaḥ āyāsabahulā loke yāni cānyāni śaṁkara

O Shankara, Sankhya-yoga, meditation, karma-yoga, and the Vedic path — these and whatever other means exist in this world are full of great toil.

Verse 6 (padma.3.33.6)

येन विश्रांतचित्तानां योगिनां कर्मिणामपि । दृश्यो हि भगवान्सूक्ष्मः सर्वेषामथ देहिनाम् ।

yena viśrāṁtacittānāṁ yogināṁ karmiṇāmapi dṛśyo hi bhagavānsūkṣmaḥ sarveṣāmatha dehinām

By what means does the subtle Lord become visible — to yogis of tranquil mind, and even to men engaged in action — to all embodied beings alike?

Verse 7 (padma.3.33.7)

एतद्गुह्यतमं ज्ञानं गूढं शक्रादिसेवितम् । हिताय सर्वभूतानां ब्रूहि कामाग्निनाशनम् ।

etadguhyatamaṁ jñānaṁ gūḍhaṁ śakrādisevitam hitāya sarvabhūtānāṁ brūhi kāmāgnināśanam

Tell me this most secret knowledge, this hidden mystery honored even by Indra and the other gods — for the welfare of all beings, and the knowledge that extinguishes the fire of desire.

Verse 8 (padma.3.33.8)

ईश्वर उवाच । अवाच्यमत्र विज्ञानं ज्ञानमज्ञैर्बहिष्कृतम् । वक्ष्ये तव यथातत्त्वं यदुक्तं परमर्षिभिः ।

īśvara uvāca avācyamatra vijñānaṁ jñānamajñairbahiṣkṛtam vakṣye tava yathātattvaṁ yaduktaṁ paramarṣibhiḥ

Ishvara said: This wisdom is ordinarily unspeakable, this knowledge shunned by the ignorant; yet I shall tell you its truth exactly as it was declared by the supreme sages.

Verse 9 (padma.3.33.9)

परं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं मम वाराणसी पुरी । सर्वेषामेव भूतानां संसारार्णवतारिणी ।

paraṁ guhyatamaṁ kṣetraṁ mama vārāṇasī purī sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṁ saṁsārārṇavatāriṇī

My most secret and supreme field is the city of Varanasi, which carries every being across the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 10 (padma.3.33.10)

तत्र भक्त्या महादेवि मदीयं व्रतमास्थिताः । निवसंति महात्मानः परं नियममास्थिताः ।

tatra bhaktyā mahādevi madīyaṁ vratamāsthitāḥ nivasaṁti mahātmānaḥ paraṁ niyamamāsthitāḥ

There, O great goddess, great souls who have taken up my vow with devotion dwell, established in the highest discipline.

Verse 11 (padma.3.33.11)

उत्तमं सर्वतीर्थानां स्थानानामुत्तमं च यत् । ज्ञानानामुत्तमं ज्ञानमविमुक्तं परं मम ।

uttamaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ sthānānāmuttamaṁ ca yat jñānānāmuttamaṁ jñānamavimuktaṁ paraṁ mama

It is the best of all tirthas, and the best among all holy places; among knowledges it is the highest knowledge — Avimukta, my own supreme abode.

Verse 12 (padma.3.33.12)

स्थानांतर पवित्राणि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च । श्मशानसंस्थितान्येव दिव्यभूमिगतानि च ।

sthānāṁtara pavitrāṇi tīrthānyāyatanāni ca śmaśānasaṁsthitānyeva divyabhūmigatāni ca

Other sacred places, tirthas, and shrines exist, some situated in cremation grounds and some upon divine ground.

Verse 13 (padma.3.33.13)

भूर्लोके नैव संलग्नमंतरिक्षे ममालयम् । अमुक्तास्तत्र पश्यंति मुक्ताः पश्यंति चेतसा ।

bhūrloke naiva saṁlagnamaṁtarikṣe mamālayam amuktāstatra paśyaṁti muktāḥ paśyaṁti cetasā

But my abode is not fixed in the earthly world — it lies in the sky (the intermediate space). The unliberated see it there outwardly; the liberated see it inwardly, with the mind.

Verse 14 (padma.3.33.14)

श्मशानमेतद्विख्यातमविमुक्तमिति श्रुतम् । कालो भूत्वा जगदिदं संहराम्यत्र सुंदरि ।

śmaśānametadvikhyātamavimuktamiti śrutam kālo bhūtvā jagadidaṁ saṁharāmyatra suṁdari

This cremation ground is renowned, known by the name Avimukta; O beautiful one, becoming Time itself, I dissolve this universe right here.

Verse 15 (padma.3.33.15)

देवीदं सर्वगुह्यानां स्थानं प्रियतरं मम । मद्भक्तास्तत्र गच्छंति मामेव प्रविशंति च ।

devīdaṁ sarvaguhyānāṁ sthānaṁ priyataraṁ mama madbhaktāstatra gacchaṁti māmeva praviśaṁti ca

O Goddess, of all secret places this is dearest to me; my devotees go there and enter into me alone.

Verse 16 (padma.3.33.16)

दत्तं जप्तं हुतं चेष्टं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । ध्यानमध्ययनं ज्ञानं सर्वं तत्राक्षयं भवेत् ।

dattaṁ japtaṁ hutaṁ ceṣṭaṁ tapastaptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat dhyānamadhyayanaṁ jñānaṁ sarvaṁ tatrākṣayaṁ bhavet

Whatever is given as charity, recited, offered in fire, or performed as a rite, whatever austerity practiced or deed done, whatever meditation, study, or knowledge — all of it becomes imperishable there.

Verse 17 (padma.3.33.17)

जन्मांतरसहस्रेषु यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम् । अविमुक्तं प्रविष्टस्य तत्सर्वं व्रजति क्षयम् ।

janmāṁtarasahasreṣu yatpāpaṁ pūrvasaṁcitam avimuktaṁ praviṣṭasya tatsarvaṁ vrajati kṣayam

Whatever sin has accumulated over a thousand former births — for one who enters Avimukta, all of it goes to destruction.

Verse 18 (padma.3.33.18)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्च वर्णसंकराः । स्त्रियो म्लेच्छाश्च ये चान्ये संकीर्णाः पापयोनयः ।

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśca varṇasaṁkarāḥ striyo mlecchāśca ye cānye saṁkīrṇāḥ pāpayonayaḥ

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, those of mixed caste, women, mlecchas, and other beings of mixed and sinful birth —

Verse 19 (padma.3.33.19)

कीटाः पिपीलिकाश्चैव ये चान्ये मृगपक्षिणः । कालेन निधनं प्राप्ता अविमुक्ते वरानने ।

kīṭāḥ pipīlikāścaiva ye cānye mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ kālena nidhanaṁ prāptā avimukte varānane

insects, ants, and other beasts and birds as well — O fair-faced one, whoever meets death in due time at Avimukta,

Verse 20 (padma.3.33.20)

चंद्रार्द्धमौलयस्त्र्यक्षा महावृषभवाहनाः । शिवे मम पुरे देवि जायंते तत्र मानवाः ।

caṁdrārddhamaulayastryakṣā mahāvṛṣabhavāhanāḥ śive mama pure devi jāyaṁte tatra mānavāḥ

those men, O Goddess, are reborn in my auspicious city bearing the crescent moon on their crest, three-eyed, mounted upon a great bull.

Verse 21 (padma.3.33.21)

नाविमुक्ते मृतः कश्चिन्नरकं याति किल्बिषी । ईश्वरानुगृहीता हि सर्वे यांति परां गतिम् ।

nāvimukte mṛtaḥ kaścinnarakaṁ yāti kilbiṣī īśvarānugṛhītā hi sarve yāṁti parāṁ gatim

No sinner who dies at Avimukta goes to hell; graced by Ishvara, all attain the supreme state.

Verse 22 (padma.3.33.22)

मोक्षं सुदुर्ल्लभं मत्वा संसारं चातिभीषणम् । अश्मना चरणौ भंक्त्वा वाराणस्यां वसेन्नरः ।

mokṣaṁ sudurllabhaṁ matvā saṁsāraṁ cātibhīṣaṇam aśmanā caraṇau bhaṁktvā vārāṇasyāṁ vasennaraḥ

Considering liberation exceedingly hard to attain and worldly existence utterly terrible, a man should dwell in Varanasi even at the cost of breaking his own feet upon stone — that is, whatever the hardship.

Verse 23 (padma.3.33.23)

दुर्ल्लभा तपसा चापि मृतस्य परमेश्वरि । यत्र तत्र विपन्नस्य गतिः संसारमोक्षणी ।

durllabhā tapasā cāpi mṛtasya parameśvari yatra tatra vipannasya gatiḥ saṁsāramokṣaṇī

O supreme goddess, even through austerity that destiny is hard to attain, which frees from samsara one who dies there, wherever within it he may be.

Verse 24 (padma.3.33.24)

प्रसादाज्जायते सम्यक्मम शैलेंद्रनंदिनि । अप्रवृद्धा न पश्यंति मम मायाविमोहिताः ।

prasādājjāyate samyakmama śaileṁdranaṁdini apravṛddhā na paśyaṁti mama māyāvimohitāḥ

O daughter of the king of mountains, it arises rightly only through my grace; those whose understanding is unripe, deluded by my Maya, do not perceive it.

Verse 25 (padma.3.33.25)

विण्मूत्ररेतसां मध्ये ते वसंति पुनः पुनः । हन्यमानोऽपि यो विद्वान्वसेद्विघ्नशतैरपि ।

viṇmūtraretasāṁ madhye te vasaṁti punaḥ punaḥ hanyamāno'pi yo vidvānvasedvighnaśatairapi

They dwell again and again amid excrement, urine, and semen — that is, are reborn in the womb. But the wise man who, even while assailed by a hundred obstacles, continues to dwell there,

Verse 26 (padma.3.33.26)

स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति । जन्ममृत्युजरामुक्तं परं यांति शिवालयम् ।

sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra gatvā na śocati janmamṛtyujarāmuktaṁ paraṁ yāṁti śivālayam

he reaches the supreme abode, arriving where he grieves no more; freed from birth, death, and old age, such souls go to Shiva's supreme abode.

Verse 27 (padma.3.33.27)

अपुनर्मरणानां हि सा गतिर्मोक्षकांक्षिणाम् । यां प्राप्य कृतकृत्यः स्यादिति मन्यंति पंडिताः ।

apunarmaraṇānāṁ hi sā gatirmokṣakāṁkṣiṇām yāṁ prāpya kṛtakṛtyaḥ syāditi manyaṁti paṁḍitāḥ

That indeed is the destiny of those who desire liberation and who shall never die again; attaining it, one becomes fulfilled — so the learned hold.

Verse 28 (padma.3.33.28)

न दानैर्न तपोभिश्च न यज्ञैर्नापि विद्यया । प्राप्यते गतिरुत्कृष्टा याविमुक्ते तु लभ्यते ।

na dānairna tapobhiśca na yajñairnāpi vidyayā prāpyate gatirutkṛṣṭā yāvimukte tu labhyate

Not by gifts, not by austerities, not by sacrifices, nor even by learning is that exalted state attained which is obtained simply at Avimukta.

Verse 29 (padma.3.33.29)

नानावर्णा विवर्णाश्च चांडालाद्या जुगुप्सिताः । किल्बिषैः पूर्णदेहाश्च विशिष्टैः पातकैस्तथा ।

nānāvarṇā vivarṇāśca cāṁḍālādyā jugupsitāḥ kilbiṣaiḥ pūrṇadehāśca viśiṣṭaiḥ pātakaistathā

People of every caste and of no caste, despised ones beginning with Chandalas, their bodies laden with sin, marked by particular grave transgressions —

Verse 30 (padma.3.33.30)

भेषजं परमं तेषामविमुक्तं विदुर्बुधाः । अविमुक्तं परं ज्ञानमविमुक्तं परं पदम् ।

bheṣajaṁ paramaṁ teṣāmavimuktaṁ vidurbudhāḥ avimuktaṁ paraṁ jñānamavimuktaṁ paraṁ padam

for them the wise know Avimukta alone as the supreme medicine. Avimukta is the supreme knowledge, Avimukta is the supreme state,

Verse 31 (padma.3.33.31)

अविमुक्तं परं तत्त्वमविमुक्तं परं शिवम् । कृत्वा वै नैष्ठिकीं दीक्षामविमुक्ते वसंति ये ।

avimuktaṁ paraṁ tattvamavimuktaṁ paraṁ śivam kṛtvā vai naiṣṭhikīṁ dīkṣāmavimukte vasaṁti ye

Avimukta is the supreme truth, Avimukta is the supreme auspiciousness itself. Those who, having taken lifelong initiation, dwell at Avimukta —

Verse 32 (padma.3.33.32)

तेषां तत्परमं ज्ञानं ददाम्यंते परं पदम् । प्रयागं नैमिषारण्यं श्रीशैलोऽथ महाबलम् ।

teṣāṁ tatparamaṁ jñānaṁ dadāmyaṁte paraṁ padam prayāgaṁ naimiṣāraṇyaṁ śrīśailo'tha mahābalam

to them I give that supreme knowledge, and at the end, the supreme state as well. Prayaga, the Naimisha forest, Shrishaila, Mahabala,

Verse 33 (padma.3.33.33)

केदारं भद्रकर्णं तु गया पुष्करमेव च । कुरुक्षेत्रं भद्रकोटिर्नर्मदाम्रातकेश्वरी ।

kedāraṁ bhadrakarṇaṁ tu gayā puṣkarameva ca kurukṣetraṁ bhadrakoṭirnarmadāmrātakeśvarī

Kedara, Bhadrakarna, Gaya, and Pushkara too, Kurukshetra, Bhadrakoti, Amratakeshvari on the Narmada —

Verse 34 (padma.3.33.34)

शालग्रामं च कुब्जाम्रं कोकामुखमनुत्तमम् । प्रभासं विजयेशानं गोकर्णं भद्रकर्णकम् ।

śālagrāmaṁ ca kubjāmraṁ kokāmukhamanuttamam prabhāsaṁ vijayeśānaṁ gokarṇaṁ bhadrakarṇakam

Shalagrama, Kubjamra, the unsurpassed Kokamukha, Prabhasa, Vijayeshana, Gokarna, Bhadrakarnaka —

Verse 35 (padma.3.33.35)

एतानि पुण्यस्थानानि त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुतानि ह । न यास्यंति परं तत्त्वं वाराणस्यां यथा मृताः ।

etāni puṇyasthānāni trailokye viśrutāni ha na yāsyaṁti paraṁ tattvaṁ vārāṇasyāṁ yathā mṛtāḥ

These sacred places are renowned throughout the three worlds; yet those who die there do not reach that supreme truth as those who die in Varanasi do.

Verse 36 (padma.3.33.36)

वाराणस्यां विशेषेण गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी । प्रविष्टा नाशयेत्पापं जन्मांतरशतैः कृतम् ।

vārāṇasyāṁ viśeṣeṇa gaṁgā tripathagāminī praviṣṭā nāśayetpāpaṁ janmāṁtaraśataiḥ kṛtam

In Varanasi especially, once one enters the Ganga who flows through the three worlds, she destroys sins committed over a hundred former births.

Verse 37 (padma.3.33.37)

अन्यत्र सुलभा गंगा श्राद्धं दानं तपो जपः । व्रतानि सर्वमेवैतद्वाराणस्यां सुदुर्ल्लभम् ।

anyatra sulabhā gaṁgā śrāddhaṁ dānaṁ tapo japaḥ vratāni sarvamevaitadvārāṇasyāṁ sudurllabham

Elsewhere the Ganga, shraddha rites, gifts, austerity, recitation, and vows are all readily available; but in Varanasi all of these are held to be exceedingly rare and precious.

Verse 38 (padma.3.33.38)

जपेच्च जुहुयान्नित्यं ददात्यर्चयतेऽमरान् । वायुभक्षश्च सततं वाराणस्यां स्थितो नरः ।

japecca juhuyānnityaṁ dadātyarcayate'marān vāyubhakṣaśca satataṁ vārāṇasyāṁ sthito naraḥ

The man who, dwelling continually in Varanasi, daily recites, offers oblations, gives gifts, worships the gods, and lives ever on air alone in the strictest fast —

Verse 39 (padma.3.33.39)

यदि पापो यदि शठो यदि वा धार्मिको नरः । वाराणसीं समासाद्य पुनाति सकलं कुलम् ।

yadi pāpo yadi śaṭho yadi vā dhārmiko naraḥ vārāṇasīṁ samāsādya punāti sakalaṁ kulam

whether a man be sinful, or deceitful, or righteous — having reached Varanasi, he purifies his entire lineage.

Verse 40 (padma.3.33.40)

वाराणस्यां येऽर्चयंति महादेवं स्तुवंति वै । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तास्ते विज्ञेया गणेश्वराः ।

vārāṇasyāṁ ye'rcayaṁti mahādevaṁ stuvaṁti vai sarvapāpavinirmuktāste vijñeyā gaṇeśvarāḥ

Those who in Varanasi worship and praise Mahadeva should be known as freed from every sin, ranked as lords of his own hosts.

Verse 41 (padma.3.33.41)

अन्यत्र योगज्ञानाभ्यां संन्यासादथवान्यतः । प्राप्यते तत्परं स्थानं सहस्रेणैव जन्मनाम् ।

anyatra yogajñānābhyāṁ saṁnyāsādathavānyataḥ prāpyate tatparaṁ sthānaṁ sahasreṇaiva janmanām

Elsewhere, through yoga and knowledge, or through renunciation, or by other means, that supreme state is attained only after a thousand births.

Verse 42 (padma.3.33.42)

ये भक्ता देवदेवेशि वाराणस्यां वसंति वै । ते विंदंति परं मोक्षमेकेनैव तु जन्मना ।

ye bhaktā devadeveśi vārāṇasyāṁ vasaṁti vai te viṁdaṁti paraṁ mokṣamekenaiva tu janmanā

But O queen of the gods, the devotees who dwell in Varanasi attain that supreme liberation in a single birth.

Verse 43 (padma.3.33.43)

यत्र योगस्तथा ज्ञानं मुक्तिरेकेन जन्मना । अविमुक्तं तदासाद्य नान्यदिच्छेत्तपोवनम् ।

yatra yogastathā jñānaṁ muktirekena janmanā avimuktaṁ tadāsādya nānyadicchettapovanam

Where yoga, knowledge, and liberation are all won in a single birth — having reached that Avimukta, one should desire no other forest of austerity.

Verse 44 (padma.3.33.44)

यतो मयाऽविमुक्तं तदविमुक्तं ततः स्मृतम् । तदेव गुह्यं गुह्यानामेतद्विज्ञानमुच्यते ।

yato mayā'vimuktaṁ tadavimuktaṁ tataḥ smṛtam tadeva guhyaṁ guhyānāmetadvijñānamucyate

Because I myself never abandon it, it is remembered by the name Avimukta, 'never forsaken'; that alone is the secret of secrets — this is called true understanding.

Verse 45 (padma.3.33.45)

ज्ञानाज्ञानाभिनिष्ठानां परमानंदमिच्छताम् । यागतिर्विदिता सुभ्रूः साविमुक्ते मृतस्य तु ।

jñānājñānābhiniṣṭhānāṁ paramānaṁdamicchatām yāgatirviditā subhrūḥ sāvimukte mṛtasya tu

The destiny sought by those established in either knowledge or ignorance, who desire supreme bliss — O fair-browed one, that is known only to one who dies at Avimukta.

Verse 46 (padma.3.33.46)

यानि चैवाविमुक्तस्य देहे दृष्टानि कृत्स्नशः । पुरी वाराणसी तेभ्यः स्थानेभ्योऽप्यधिका शुभा ।

yāni caivāvimuktasya dehe dṛṣṭāni kṛtsnaśaḥ purī vārāṇasī tebhyaḥ sthānebhyo'pyadhikā śubhā

Even more auspicious than every one of those sacred marks seen upon Avimukta's own (Shiva's) body is the city of Varanasi itself.

Verse 47 (padma.3.33.47)

यत्र साक्षान्महादेवो देहांते स्वयमीश्वरः । व्याचष्टे तारकं ब्रह्म तत्रैव ह्यविमुक्तये ।

yatra sākṣānmahādevo dehāṁte svayamīśvaraḥ vyācaṣṭe tārakaṁ brahma tatraiva hyavimuktaye

Where, at the moment of death, Mahadeva himself, the Lord in person, expounds the liberating Taraka-Brahma — that indeed is Avimukta.

Verse 48 (padma.3.33.48)

यत्तत्परतरं तत्त्वमविमुक्तमिति श्रुतम् । एकेन जन्मना देवि वाराणस्यां तदाप्नुयात् ।

yattatparataraṁ tattvamavimuktamiti śrutam ekena janmanā devi vārāṇasyāṁ tadāpnuyāt

That supreme truth which is known as Avimukta, O Goddess, is obtained in Varanasi in a single birth.

Verse 49 (padma.3.33.49)

भ्रूमध्ये नाभिमध्ये च हृदये चैव मूर्धनि । यथाविमुक्तमादित्ये वाराणस्यां व्यवस्थितम् ।

bhrūmadhye nābhimadhye ca hṛdaye caiva mūrdhani yathāvimuktamāditye vārāṇasyāṁ vyavasthitam

As Avimukta abides between the eyebrows, in the center of the navel, in the heart, at the crown of the head, and in the sun — so it is established also in Varanasi.

Verse 50 (padma.3.33.50)

वरणायास्तथा चास्या मध्ये वाराणसीपुरी । तत्रैव संस्थितं तत्त्वं नित्यमेवंविमुक्तकम् ।

varaṇāyāstathā cāsyā madhye vārāṇasīpurī tatraiva saṁsthitaṁ tattvaṁ nityamevaṁvimuktakam

Between the Varana and Asi rivers lies the city of Varanasi; there indeed that eternal principle, Avimukta, abides forever.

Verse 51 (padma.3.33.51)

वाराणस्याः परं स्थानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । यत्र नारायणो देवो महादेवो दिवीश्वरः ।

vārāṇasyāḥ paraṁ sthānaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati yatra nārāyaṇo devo mahādevo divīśvaraḥ

There has never been, nor shall there ever be, a place higher than Varanasi, where the god Narayana dwells as Mahadeva, lord of heaven.

Verse 52 (padma.3.33.52)

तत्र देवाः सगंधर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः । उपासते यं सततं देवदेवः पितामहः ।

tatra devāḥ sagaṁdharvāḥ sayakṣoragarākṣasāḥ upāsate yaṁ satataṁ devadevaḥ pitāmahaḥ

There the gods together with the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshasas — and the god of gods, the Grandsire himself — forever worship him.

Verse 53 (padma.3.33.53)

महापातकिनो देवि ये तेभ्यः पापकृत्तमाः । वाराणसीं समासाद्य ते यांति परमां गतिम् ।

mahāpātakino devi ye tebhyaḥ pāpakṛttamāḥ vārāṇasīṁ samāsādya te yāṁti paramāṁ gatim

O Goddess, even those who are more sinful than the very worst of great sinners — having reached Varanasi, they attain the supreme goal.

Verse 54 (padma.3.33.54)

तस्मान्मुमुक्षुर्नियतो वसेद्वै मरणांतकम् । वाराणस्यां महादेवाज्ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा विमुच्यते ।

tasmānmumukṣurniyato vasedvai maraṇāṁtakam vārāṇasyāṁ mahādevājjñānaṁ labdhvā vimucyate

Therefore one who seeks liberation should dwell there, disciplined, until the very end of life; obtaining knowledge from Mahadeva in Varanasi, one is set free.

Verse 55 (padma.3.33.55)

किंतु विघ्ना भविष्यंति पापोपहतचेतसः । ततो नैवाचरेत्पापं कायेन मनसा गिरा ।

kiṁtu vighnā bhaviṣyaṁti pāpopahatacetasaḥ tato naivācaretpāpaṁ kāyena manasā girā

But obstacles will arise for one whose mind is corrupted by sin; therefore one should never commit sin in body, mind, or speech.

Verse 56 (padma.3.33.56)

एतद्रहस्यं देवानां पुराणानां च सुव्रते । अविमुक्ताश्रयं ज्ञानं न कश्चिद्वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ।

etadrahasyaṁ devānāṁ purāṇānāṁ ca suvrate avimuktāśrayaṁ jñānaṁ na kaścidvetti tattvataḥ

O woman of good vows, this is the secret of the gods and of the ancient scriptures; hardly anyone truly knows this knowledge that rests on Avimukta.

Verse 57 (padma.3.33.57)

नारद उवाच । देवतानामृषीणां च शृण्वतां परमेष्ठिनाम् । देवदेवेन कथितं सर्वपापविनाशनम् ।

nārada uvāca devatānāmṛṣīṇāṁ ca śṛṇvatāṁ parameṣṭhinām devadevena kathitaṁ sarvapāpavināśanam

Narada said: This truth, destroyer of all sin, was thus declared by the god of gods, while the gods, the sages, and the exalted Parameshthins listened.

Verse 58 (padma.3.33.58)

यथानारायणः श्रेष्ठो देवानां पुरुषोत्तमः । यथेश्वराणां गिरिशः स्थानानामेतदुत्तमम् ।

yathānārāyaṇaḥ śreṣṭho devānāṁ puruṣottamaḥ yatheśvarāṇāṁ giriśaḥ sthānānāmetaduttamam

As Narayana is the supreme person, best among the gods, and as Girisha (Shiva) is best among the lords — so is this the best among all holy places.

Verse 59 (padma.3.33.59)

यैः समाराधितो रुद्रः पूर्वस्मिन्नेकजन्मनि । ते विदंति परं क्षेत्रमविमुक्तं शिवालयम् ।

yaiḥ samārādhito rudraḥ pūrvasminnekajanmani te vidaṁti paraṁ kṣetramavimuktaṁ śivālayam

Those by whom Rudra was truly worshipped even once in a former birth — they alone come to know this supreme field, Avimukta, Shiva's abode.

Verse 60 (padma.3.33.60)

कलिकल्मषसंभूता येषामुपहृता मतिः । न तेषां वेदितुं शक्यं स्थानं तत्परमेष्ठिनः ।

kalikalmaṣasaṁbhūtā yeṣāmupahṛtā matiḥ na teṣāṁ vedituṁ śakyaṁ sthānaṁ tatparameṣṭhinaḥ

Those whose understanding has been carried away by the taint born of the Kali age — for them it is not possible to know this abode of the Supreme Lord.

Verse 61 (padma.3.33.61)

ये स्मरंति सदा कालं वदंति च पुरीमिमाम् । तेषां विनश्यति क्षिप्रमिहामुत्र च पातकम् ।

ye smaraṁti sadā kālaṁ vadaṁti ca purīmimām teṣāṁ vinaśyati kṣipramihāmutra ca pātakam

Those who constantly remember and speak of this city — their sin, both in this world and the next, is swiftly destroyed.

Verse 62 (padma.3.33.62)

यानि चेह प्रकुर्वंति पातकानि कृतालयाः । नाशयेत्तानि सर्वाणि देवः कालतनुः शिवः ।

yāni ceha prakurvaṁti pātakāni kṛtālayāḥ nāśayettāni sarvāṇi devaḥ kālatanuḥ śivaḥ

And whatever sins those who have made their home here may commit, Shiva, the god whose very form is Time, destroys them all.

Verse 63 (padma.3.33.63)

आगच्छेत्तदिदं स्थानं सेवितं मोक्षकांक्षिभिः । मृतानां च पुनर्जन्म न भूयो भवसागरे ।

āgacchettadidaṁ sthānaṁ sevitaṁ mokṣakāṁkṣibhiḥ mṛtānāṁ ca punarjanma na bhūyo bhavasāgare

Let one come to this place, cherished by those who desire liberation; those who die here are never reborn again in the ocean of existence.

Verse 64 (padma.3.33.64)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वाराणस्यां वसेन्नरः । योगी वाप्यथवायोगी पापी वा पुण्यकृत्तमः ।

tasmātsarvaprayatnena vārāṇasyāṁ vasennaraḥ yogī vāpyathavāyogī pāpī vā puṇyakṛttamaḥ

Therefore, with every effort, a man should dwell in Varanasi — whether he be a yogi or not a yogi, whether sinful or a supreme doer of merit.

Verse 65 (padma.3.33.65)

न लोकवचनात्पित्रोर्न चैव गुरुवादतः । मतिर्न क्रमणीया स्यादविमुक्तगतिं प्रति ।

na lokavacanātpitrorna caiva guruvādataḥ matirna kramaṇīyā syādavimuktagatiṁ prati

Not because of the world's talk, not because of one's parents' words, nor even a teacher's counsel, should one's resolve waver from the path to Avimukta's supreme destiny.