कार्तिकेय उवाच-। एकवक्त्रं द्वित्रिचतुःपंचषड्वक्त्रमेव च। सप्ताष्टनववक्त्रं च दशैकादशवक्त्रकम्
Karttikeya said: "One-faced, two-, three-, four-, five-, six-faced, as well as seven-, eight-, nine-faced, and ten- and eleven-faced—"
रुद्राक्षं द्वादशास्यं च त्रयोदशमुखं तथा। चतुर्दशास्यसंयुक्तं स्वयमुक्तं च शंकरम्
"Rudraksha with twelve faces, and also thirteen-faced, and joined with fourteen faces, and the self-manifested Shankara—"
तेषां च तन्मुखानां च देवताः काश्च तद्वद। गुणो वा कीदृशस्तेषां दोषो वा जगदीश्वर
"Of these and of their faces, tell me, O Lord of the world, which deities are associated with them, what are their qualities, and what faults, if any."
यदि मेनुग्रहोवास्ति कथयस्व यथार्थतः। ईश्वर उवाच-। एकवक्त्रः शिवः साक्षाद्ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति
"If you are inclined to favor me, tell me truly." Ishvara said: "The one-faced is Shiva himself; it removes the sin of killing a Brahmin."
तस्मात्तु धारयेद्देहे सर्वपापक्षयाय च। शिवलोकं स गच्छेच्च शिवेन सह मोदते
"Therefore, one should wear it on the body for the destruction of all sins; he goes to the world of Shiva and rejoices there with Shiva."
महतापुण्ययोगेन हरानुग्रहकारणात्। एकवक्त्रं लभेन्मर्त्यो कैलासं च षडानन
"By great accumulation of merit and by the grace of Hara, a mortal obtains the one-faced Rudraksha, and, O six-faced one, Kailasa as well."
देवदेवो द्विवक्त्रं च यस्तु धारयते नरः। सर्वपापक्षयं याति यद्गुह्यंगोवधादिकम्
"The god of gods—whoever wears the two-faced Rudraksha, he is freed from all sins, even the most secret, such as killing a cow."
स्वर्गं चाक्षयमाप्नोति द्विवक्त्रधारणात्ततः। त्रिवक्त्रमनलस्साक्षाद्यस्यदेहे प्रतिष्ठति१५० 1.59.
"By wearing the two-faced Rudraksha, he attains inexhaustible heaven; the three-faced, which is verily fire itself, is established in his body."
तस्य जन्मार्जितं पापं दहत्यग्निरिवेंधनम्। स्त्रीहत्या ब्रह्महत्याभ्यां बहूनां चैव हत्यया
The sin accumulated from his birth is burned up like fire consumes fuel—whether it be the killing of a woman, the slaying of a Brahmin, or the killing of many others.
यत्पापं लभते मर्त्यः सर्वं नश्यति तत्क्षणात्। यत्फलं वह्निपूजायामग्निकार्ये घृताहुतौ
Whatever sin a mortal acquires, all of it is instantly destroyed; and whatever merit arises from worship of fire, fire rituals, or offerings of ghee into the fire,
तत्फलं लभते धीरः स्वर्गं चानंतमश्नुते। त्रिवक्त्रं धारयेद्यस्तु स च ब्रह्मसमो भुवि
That very merit is gained by the steadfast one, and he attains endless heaven; whoever wears the three-faced form becomes equal to Brahma on earth.
निचितं दुष्कृतं सर्वं दहेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि। न चोदरे भवेद्रोगो न चैवापटुतां व्रजेत्
All accumulated evil deeds are burned up in every birth; he will not suffer disease in the belly, nor will he ever become weak.
पराजयं न लभते नाग्निना दह्यते गृहम्। एतान्यन्यानि सर्वाणि वज्रादेश्च निवारणम्
He does not experience defeat, nor is his house burned by fire; all these and other calamities, even those like thunderbolts, are warded off.
नाशुभं विद्यते किंचित्त्रिवक्त्रस्य तु धारणात्। चतुर्वक्त्रः स्वयं ब्रह्मा यस्य देहे प्रतिष्ठति
No inauspicious thing whatsoever befalls one who wears the three-faced form; Brahma himself, with four faces, is established in his body.
स भवेत्सर्वशास्त्रज्ञो द्विजो वेदविदां वरः। सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञः स्मार्तः पौराणिको भवेत्
He becomes knower of all scriptures, a twice-born best among Veda-knowers; he understands the essence of all dharma and artha, and becomes learned in Smriti and Purana.
यत्पापं नरहत्यायां बहुसत्त्वेषु वेश्मसु। तत्सर्वं दहते शीघ्रं चतुर्वक्त्रस्य धारणात्
Whatever sin arises from killing humans, or in houses full of many beings—all that is quickly burned up by wearing the four-faced form.
महेशस्तुष्यते नित्यं भूतानामधिपो भवेत्। सद्योजातस्तथेशानस्तत्पुरुषोऽघोर एव च
Mahesha is always pleased, and he becomes lord of beings; Sadyojata, Ishana, Tatpurusha, and Aghora as well.
वामदेव इमे देवा वक्त्रैः पंचभिराश्रिताः। अतः सर्वत्र भूयिष्ठाः पंचवक्त्रो धरातले
Vamadeva and these other deities are established in the five faces; therefore, the five-faced form is supreme everywhere on earth.
रुद्रस्यात्मजरूपोयं तस्मात्तं धारयेद्बुधः। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च
This is the very form of Rudra's own son; therefore, the wise should wear it. For a thousand crore aeons, and hundreds of crore aeons,
तावत्कालं शिवस्याग्रे पूजनीयः सुरासुरैः। सार्वभौमो भवेद्भूमौ शर्वतेजाः शिवालये
For that length of time, he is to be worshipped before Shiva by gods and demons; he becomes sovereign on earth, radiant with Shiva's splendor, in Shiva's abode.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पंचवक्त्रं तु धारयेत्। षड्वक्त्रं कार्तिकेयं तु धारयन्दक्षिणे भुजे
Therefore, with all effort, one should wear the five-faced form; and the six-faced Kartikeya should be worn on the right arm.
ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः। स्कंदस्य सदृशः शूरः कल्पांते समुपस्थिते
He is freed from sins such as Brahmin-slaying—of this there is no doubt; at the end of the aeon, he becomes a hero like Skanda.
नात्र पराजयं चैति गुणानामाकरो भुवि। कुमारत्वमवाप्नोति यथा गौरीशनंदनः
He never meets with defeat here, and becomes a repository of virtues on earth; he attains youthfulness just as Gauri's son did.
ब्राह्मणो भूपपूज्यश्च क्षत्रियो लभते जयम्। वैश्याः शूद्रादयो वर्णाः सदैश्वर्यप्रपूरिताः। तस्यैव वरदा गौरी मातेव सुलभा भवेत्
A Brahmin becomes worthy of royal honor, a Kshatriya gains victory; Vaishyas, Shudras, and other castes are always filled with prosperity; for him, Gauri herself is easily obtained as a boon-giver, like a mother.
ततो भुजबलादेव विश्वतेजा भवेन्नरः। वाग्मी धीरस्सभायां च नृपवेश्मनि संसदि
Then, by the strength of his arms, the man becomes possessed of universal splendor; he is eloquent and steadfast in assemblies and in the king's court.
न च कातरतामेति नैव भंगो भवेद्ध्रुवम्
He does not become fearful, nor does he ever suffer any downfall—this is certain.
एतान्यन्यानि सर्वाणि षड्वक्त्रस्यैव धारणात्। सप्तवक्त्रो महासेनस्त्वनंतो नाम नागराट्
By bearing these and all other forms of the six-faced one, the seven-faced Mahāsena is called Ananta, the lord of serpents.
अस्य प्रत्येक वक्त्रे तु प्रतिनागा व्यवस्थिताः। अनंतः कर्कटश्चैव पुंडरीकोथ तक्षकः
In each of his faces are established the principal serpents: Ananta, Karkaṭa, Puṇḍarīka, and Takṣaka.
विषोल्बणश्च कारीषः शंखचूडश्च सप्तमः। एते नागा महावीर्याः सप्तवक्त्रे व्यवस्थिताः
Viṣolbaṇa, Kārīṣa, and Śaṃkhacūḍa are the seventh; these mighty serpents are situated in the seven faces.
अस्य धारणमात्रे तु विषं न क्रमते तनौ। हरश्च परमप्रीतो भवेन्नागेश्वरे यथा
By merely bearing his form, poison does not enter the body, and Hara becomes supremely pleased with the lord of serpents.