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.'
स्नानं कुरुष्व शीघ्रं त्वमस्मिन्कुंडे समाहितः । येनेमां कुत्सितां योनिं क्षिप्रमेव प्रहास्यसि
'Bathe quickly, with your mind focused, in this pond; by this, you will soon cast off this wretched birth.'
स एवमुक्तो मुनिना पिशाचो दयालुना देववरं त्रिनेत्रम् । स्मृत्वा कपर्दीश्वरमीशितारं चक्रे समाधाय मनोवगाहम्
Thus addressed by the compassionate sage, the piśāca, remembering the divine three-eyed lord, the ruler with matted hair, fixed his mind in meditation.
तदावगाढो मुनिसन्निधाने ममार दिव्याभरणोपपन्नः । अदृश्यतार्कप्रतिमो विमाने शशांकचिह्नीकृतचारुमौलि
Immersed there in the presence of the sage, he died, adorned with divine ornaments; he was seen, like 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 shone, surrounded by Rudras and celestial beings, attended by incomparable yogis; this god, with the Vālakhilyas and others, was like the sun at its rising, illuminating all the gods.
स्तुवंति सिद्धादि विदेवसंघा नृत्यंति दिव्याप्सरसोऽभिरामाः । मुंचंति वृष्टिं कुसुमांबुमिश्रां गंधर्वविद्याधरकिन्नराद्याः
The hosts of Siddhas and other gods praised him, the lovely celestial nymphs danced, and Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Kinnaras, and others showered a rain of flowers mixed with water.
संस्तूयमानोऽथ मुनींद्रसंघैरवाप्य बोधं भगवत्प्रसादात् । समाविशन्मंडलमेतदग्र्यं त्रयीमयं यत्र विभाति रुद्रः
Thus praised by the assemblies of great sages, attaining knowledge by the grace of the Lord, he entered that supreme circle composed of the three Vedas, where Rudra shines.
दृष्ट्वा विमुक्तं स पिशाचभूतं मुनिः प्रहृष्टो मनसा महेशम् । विचिंत्य रुद्रं कविमेकमग्निं प्रणम्य तुष्टाव कपर्दिनं तम्
Seeing the demon and spirit released, the sage, his mind elated, contemplated the great Lord Shiva, and, bowing to Rudra, the sole poet and fire, praised that matted-haired one.
शंकुकर्ण उवाच-। कपर्दिनं त्वां परतः परस्ताद्गोप्तारमेकं पुरुषं पुराणम् । व्रजामि योगेश्वरमीप्सितारमादित्यमग्निं कपिलाधिरूढम्
Shankukarṇa said: O matted-haired one, you are beyond the beyond, the sole protector, the ancient person. I approach you, Lord of Yoga, the desired one, the sun, the fire, mounted upon the tawny one.
त्वां ब्रह्मसारं हृदि संनिविष्टं हिरण्मयं योगिनमादिमं तम् । व्रजामि रुद्रं शरणं दिविष्ठं महामुनिं ब्रह्ममयं पवित्रम्
You are the essence of Brahman, established in the heart, golden, the primordial yogi. I approach Rudra, the refuge, dwelling in heaven, the great sage, composed of Brahman, the pure one.
सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभियुक्तं सहस्ररूपं तमसः परस्तात् । तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणमामि शंभुं हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिं त्रिनेत्रम्
Endowed with a thousand feet, eyes, and heads, of a thousand forms, beyond darkness—him, the limit of Brahman, I bow to Shambhu, the lord of the golden womb, the three-eyed one.