आराधयंति प्रभुमीशितारं वाराणसीमध्यगता मुनींद्राः । यजंति यज्ञैरभिसंधिहीनाः स्तुवंति रुद्रं प्रणमंति शंभुम्
The great sages dwelling in the midst of Varanasi worship the Lord, the Supreme Ruler; they perform sacrifices without selfish motive, praise Rudra, and bow to Shambhu.
नमो भवायामलयोगधाम्ने स्थाणुं प्रपद्ये गिरिशं पुराणम् । स्मरामि रुद्रं हृदये निविष्टं जाने महादेवमनेकरूपम्
Salutations to Bhava, the pure abode of yoga; I take refuge in Sthanu, the ancient Lord of the mountains. I remember Rudra, established in my heart; I know Mahadeva, who assumes many forms.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-fourth chapter in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
नारद उवाच- अथान्यत्तत्र वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्नात्वा तत्र विधानेन तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्नृप
Narada said: Then there is another excellent linga there, known as Kapardishvara; after bathing there according to the prescribed rite and offering libations to the ancestors, O King,
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 the Piśācamocana Tirtha.
तत्राश्चर्यमयो देवो मुक्तिदः सर्वदोषहः । कश्चिद्दैत्यो जगामेदं शार्दूलो घोररूपधृक्
There, the wondrous Lord, the giver of liberation and destroyer of all faults, is present; once, a certain demon came there, taking the terrifying form of a tiger.
मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । तत्र सा भीतहृदया कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
Desiring to devour a certain doe, the excellent Kapardishvara, that doe, her heart seized by fear, circled the linga again and again.
धावमाना सुसंभ्रांता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता । तां विदार्य नखैस्तीक्ष्णैः शार्दूलः स महाबलः
Fleeing in great panic, she fell under the power of the tiger; that mighty beast tore her apart with his sharp claws.
जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान् । मृतमात्रा च सा बाला कपर्दीशाग्रतो मृगी
Then, seeing the great sages, the tiger went to another deserted place; and that young doe, having just died, lay before Kapardishvara.
अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा । त्रिनेत्रा नीलकंठा च शशांकांकित मूर्द्धजा
A great flame appeared in the sky, shining like the sun; three-eyed, blue-throated, with the moon adorning his matted hair.
वृषाधिरूढा पुरुषैस्तादृशैरेव संवृता । पुष्पवृष्टिं विमुंचंति खेचरास्तत्समंततः
Mounted on a bull and surrounded by men of similar form, beings of the sky showered flowers all around.
गणेश्वरी स्वयं भूत्वा न दृष्टा तत्क्षणात्ततः । दृष्ट्वा तदाश्चर्यवरं प्रशशंसुः सुरादयः
Becoming herself the leader of the hosts, she was not seen from that moment; seeing that wondrous marvel, the gods and others praised it.
तन्महेशस्य वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्मृत्वैवाशेषपापौघात्क्षिप्रमस्य विमुंचति
That linga of Mahesha, the excellent Kapardishvara—by remembering it, one is quickly freed from all accumulated sins.
कामक्रोधादयो दोषा वाराणसी निवासिनाम् । विघ्नाः सर्वे विनश्यंति कपर्दीश्वरपूजनात्
Defects such as desire and anger, for those dwelling in Varanasi, all obstacles are destroyed by worship of Kapardishvara.
तस्मात्सदैव द्रष्टव्यं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । पूजितव्यं प्रयत्नेन स्तोतव्यं वैदिकैस्तवैः
Therefore, the excellent Kapardishvara 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 there with discipline, attainment of 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 Brahmin are destroyed by worshipping him; by bathing in the Piśācamocana pool, one attains peace.
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे पुरा विप्रस्तपस्वी संशितव्रतः । शंकुकर्ण इति ख्यातः पूजयामास शंकरम्
In that sacred field, long ago, a Brahmin ascetic of firm vows, known as Shankukarna, worshipped Shankara.
जजाप रुद्रमनिशं प्रणवं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् । पुष्पधूपादिभिस्तोत्रैः नमस्कारैः प्रदक्षिणैः
He recited the Rudra hymn constantly, the Praṇava which is the form of Brahman, with offerings of flowers, incense, and other praises, with salutations and circumambulations.
उपासीतात्र योगात्मा कृत्वा दीक्षां तु नैष्ठिकीम् । कदाचिदागतं प्रेतं पश्यति स्म क्षुधान्वितम्
There, the yogi, having undertaken the vow of lifelong discipline, engaged in worship; once, he saw a spirit approach, afflicted by hunger.
अस्थिचर्म पिनद्धांगं निश्वसंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । तं दृष्ट्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठः कृपया परया युतः
Its body was bound with bones and skin, breathing heavily again and again; seeing him, the 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 support my family.'
न पूजिता महादेवा गावोऽप्यतिथयस्तथा । न कदाचित्कृतं पुण्यमल्पं वानल्पमेव च
'I did not worship the great god, nor cows, nor guests; never did I perform any meritorious deed, whether small or great.'
एकदा भगवान्देवो वृषभेश्वरवाहनः । विश्वेश्वरो वाराणस्यां दृष्टः स्पृष्टो नमस्कृतः
'Once, the blessed god, Lord of the Bull, Lord of all, was seen, touched, and saluted by me in Vārāṇasī.'
तदाचिरेण कालेन पंचत्वमहमागतः । न दृष्टं तन्महाघोरं यमस्य सदनं मुने
'Soon after that time, I met my end; I did not see that dreadful abode of Yama, O sage.'
पिपासयाधुनाक्रांतो न जानामि हिताहितम् । यदि कंचित्समुद्धर्तुमुपायं पश्यसि प्रभो
'Now I am seized by thirst, I do not know what is good or harmful; if you see any means to rescue me, O lord, please show it.'
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 to the piśāca:
तादृशो नहि लोकेस्मिन्विद्यते पुण्यकृत्तमः । यत्त्वया भगवान्पूर्वं दृष्टो विश्वेश्वरः शिवः
'There is no one in this world more meritorious than you, for you once saw the blessed Lord Śiva, Lord of all.'
संस्पृष्टो वंदितो भूयः कोऽन्यस्त्वत्सदृशो भुवि । तेन कर्मविपाकेन देशमेतं समागतः
'Touched and saluted again, who else on earth is like you? By the result of that act, you have come to this place.'