मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तिं भुक्तिं च विंदति । पिशाचमोचनं नाम तीर्थमन्यत्ततः स्थितम्
One is freed from all sins and attains both liberation and enjoyment. There is another holy place established there called Pisacha-mochana.
तत्राश्चर्यमयो देवो मुक्तिदः सर्वदोषहः । कश्चिद्दैत्यो जगामेदं शार्दूलो घोररूपधृक्
There, the wondrous deity grants liberation and removes all faults. A certain demon came there, taking on a terrifying form like a tiger.
मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । तत्र सा भीतहृदया कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
He sought to devour a lone deer near the excellent Kapardi Ishvara. That deer, her heart fearful, circled the linga again and again.
धावमाना सुसंभ्रांता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता । तां विदार्य नखैस्तीक्ष्णैः शार्दूलः स महाबलः
Running in great distress, she fell under the power of the tiger. That mighty tiger tore her with sharp claws.
जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान् । मृतमात्रा च सा बाला कपर्दीशाग्रतो मृगी
He went to another deserted place, seeing the great sages. The young deer, having died, lay before Kapardi Ishvara.
अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा । त्रिनेत्रा नीलकंठा च शशांकांकित मूर्द्धजा
A great flame was seen in the sky, shining like the sun. With three eyes and a blue throat, bearing the moon upon his hair.
वृषाधिरूढा पुरुषैस्तादृशैरेव संवृता । पुष्पवृष्टिं विमुंचंति खेचरास्तत्समंततः
Mounted upon a bull, surrounded by such men, celestial beings released showers of flowers all around.
गणेश्वरी स्वयं भूत्वा न दृष्टा तत्क्षणात्ततः । दृष्ट्वा तदाश्चर्यवरं प्रशशंसुः सुरादयः
Having become the mistress of the hosts herself, she was not seen from that moment onward. Seeing this wondrous event, the gods and others praised it.
तन्महेशस्य वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्मृत्वैवाशेषपापौघात्क्षिप्रमस्य विमुंचति
Merely by remembering that supreme liṅga of Maheśa, the Lord with matted hair, one is quickly released from all accumulated sins.
कामक्रोधादयो दोषा वाराणसी निवासिनाम् । विघ्नाः सर्वे विनश्यंति कपर्दीश्वरपूजनात्
Faults such as desire and anger, and all obstacles, are destroyed for those dwelling in Vārāṇasī by worship of the Lord with matted hair.
तस्मात्सदैव द्रष्टव्यं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । पूजितव्यं प्रयत्नेन स्तोतव्यं वैदिकैस्तवैः
Therefore, that supreme Lord with matted hair should always be seen, worshipped with effort, and praised with Vedic hymns.
ध्यायतां चात्र नियतं योगिनां शांतचेतसाम् । जायते योगसिद्धिः स्यात्षण्मासेन न संशयः
For yogis of tranquil mind who meditate here with discipline, attainment in yoga arises within six months—of this there is no doubt.
ब्रह्महत्यादयः पापा विनश्यंत्यस्य पूजनात् । पिशाचमोचने कुंडे स्नातः स्यात्प्रशमो यतः
Sins such as the killing of a brāhmaṇa are destroyed by worship of him; by bathing in the Piśācamocana pond, one attains peace.
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे पुरा विप्रस्तपस्वी संशितव्रतः । शंकुकर्ण इति ख्यातः पूजयामास शंकरम्
In that sacred place, long ago, a brāhmaṇa ascetic renowned for his firm vows, named Śaṃkukarṇa, worshipped Śaṃkara.
जजाप रुद्रमनिशं प्रणवं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् । पुष्पधूपादिभिस्तोत्रैः नमस्कारैः प्रदक्षिणैः
He recited the Rudra mantra day and night, the praṇava, the embodiment of Brahman, with flowers, incense, hymns, salutations, and circumambulations.
उपासीतात्र योगात्मा कृत्वा दीक्षां तु नैष्ठिकीम् । कदाचिदागतं प्रेतं पश्यति स्म क्षुधान्वितम्
There, the yogic-souled one performed worship, having taken the vow of lifelong dedication; once, he saw a preta who had come, afflicted by hunger.
अस्थिचर्म पिनद्धांगं निश्वसंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । तं दृष्ट्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठः कृपया परया युतः
Its body was covered with bones and skin, sighing again and again; seeing it, that best of sages was filled with great compassion.
प्रोवाच को भवान्कस्माद्देशाद्देशमिमं श्रितः । तस्मै पिशाचः क्षुधया पीड्यमानोऽब्रवीद्वचः
He spoke: 'Who are you? From what place have you come to this land?' To him, the piśāca, tormented by hunger, replied these words:
पूर्वजन्मन्यहं विप्रो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । पुत्रपौत्रादिभिर्युक्तः कुटुंबभरणोत्सुकः
In a former birth I was a brāhmaṇa, endowed with wealth and grain, surrounded by sons, grandsons, and others, eager to provide for my family.
न पूजिता महादेवा गावोऽप्यतिथयस्तथा । न कदाचित्कृतं पुण्यमल्पं वानल्पमेव च
I did not worship the great god, nor cows or guests; never did I perform any meritorious act, whether small or great.
एकदा भगवान्देवो वृषभेश्वरवाहनः । विश्वेश्वरो वाराणस्यां दृष्टः स्पृष्टो नमस्कृतः
Once, the blessed god, Lord Viśveśvara, who rides the bull, was seen, touched, and saluted by me in Vārāṇasī.
तदाचिरेण कालेन पंचत्वमहमागतः । न दृष्टं तन्महाघोरं यमस्य सदनं मुने
Soon after that time, I reached death; I did not see that dreadful abode of Yama, O sage.
पिपासयाधुनाक्रांतो न जानामि हिताहितम् । यदि कंचित्समुद्धर्तुमुपायं पश्यसि प्रभो
Now, afflicted by thirst, I do not know what is beneficial or harmful; if you see any means to rescue me, O lord, please do so.
कुरुष्व तं नमस्तुभ्यं त्वामहं शरणं गतः । इत्युक्तः शंकुकर्णोऽथ पिशाचमिदमब्रवीत्
'Do that for me; I bow to you. I have taken refuge in you.' Thus addressed, Śaṃkukarṇa then spoke these words to the piśāca:
तादृशो नहि लोकेस्मिन्विद्यते पुण्यकृत्तमः । यत्त्वया भगवान्पूर्वं दृष्टो विश्वेश्वरः शिवः
There is truly no one in this world more meritorious than you, for you once saw the blessed Lord Viśveśvara, Śiva.
संस्पृष्टो वंदितो भूयः कोऽन्यस्त्वत्सदृशो भुवि । तेन कर्मविपाकेन देशमेतं समागतः
You touched him, saluted him—who else on earth is like you? By the result of that act, you have come to this place.
स्नानं कुरुष्व शीघ्रं त्वमस्मिन्कुंडे समाहितः । येनेमां कुत्सितां योनिं क्षिप्रमेव प्रहास्यसि
Bathe quickly in this pond with a concentrated mind, so that you may soon abandon this degraded birth.
स एवमुक्तो मुनिना पिशाचो दयालुना देववरं त्रिनेत्रम् । स्मृत्वा कपर्दीश्वरमीशितारं चक्रे समाधाय मनोवगाहम्
Thus addressed by the compassionate sage, the piśāca, remembering the three-eyed god, the lord with matted hair, fixed his mind and meditated upon the divine ruler.
तदावगाढो मुनिसन्निधाने ममार दिव्याभरणोपपन्नः । अदृश्यतार्कप्रतिमो विमाने शशांकचिह्नीकृतचारुमौलि
Immersed there in the presence of the sage, adorned with celestial ornaments, he died; and was seen, radiant as the sun, in a celestial chariot, with a beautiful crest marked by the moon.
विभाति रुद्रैः सहितो दिविष्ठैः समाभृतो योगिरिभरप्रमेयैः । स वालखिल्यादिभिरेष देवो यथोदये भानुरशेषदेवः
He shines, surrounded by Rudras and other divine beings, attended by incomparable yogis; this god, together with the Vālakhilyas and others, is like the sun at dawn, illuminating all the gods.