यदस्माकं महद्वीर्यं तेज ओजः पराक्रमः। तत्सर्वं ब्रह्मणा ग्रस्तं पंचमास्यस्य तेजसा
'Our great strength, brilliance, vigor, and valor—all of that was consumed by Brahma, by the radiance of his fifth face.'
विनेशुः सर्वतेजांसि त्वत्प्रसादात्पुनः प्रभो। जायते तु यथापूर्वं तथा कुरु महेश्वर
'All our powers perished, O Lord, but by your grace, let them arise again as before. Restore them, O great Lord.'
ततः प्रसन्नवदनो देवैश्चापि नमस्कृतः। जगाम यत्र ब्रह्माऽसौ रजोहंकारमूढधीः
Then, with a gracious face and having been saluted by the gods, he went to where Brahma was, whose mind was deluded by pride and passion.
स्तुवंतो देवदेवेशं परिवार्य समाविशन्। ब्रह्मा तमागतं रुद्रं न जज्ञे रजसावृतः
Surrounding and praising the Lord of gods, they entered together; but Brahma, covered by passion, did not recognize Rudra as he arrived.
सूर्यकोटिसहस्राणां तेजसा रंजयन्जगत्। तदादृश्यत विश्वात्मा विश्वसृग्विश्वभावनः
Shining upon the world with the radiance of a hundred thousand suns, there appeared the Soul of the Universe, the Creator and Sustainer of all.
सपितामहमासीनं सकलं देवमंडलम्। अभिगम्य ततो रुद्रो ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्
Approaching Brahma, the Grandfather, who was seated with the entire assembly of gods, Rudra went to the supreme creator.
अहोतितेजसा वक्त्रमधिकं देव राजते। एवमुक्त्वाट्टहासं तु मुमोच शशिशेखरः
'O god, your face shines with even greater brilliance,' he said, and then the moon-crested one let out a loud laugh.
वामांगुष्ठनखाग्रेण ब्रह्मणः पंचमं शिरः। चकर्त कदलीगर्भं नरः कररुहैरिव
With the tip of his left thumb's nail, he cut off Brahma's fifth head, as a man might pluck the tender shoot of a banana with his fingernails.
विच्छिन्नं तु शिरः पश्चाद्भवहस्ते स्थितं तदा। ग्रहमंडलमध्यस्थो द्वितीय इव चंद्रमाः
Then, the severed head remained in his hand, shining like a second moon in the midst of the planetary circle.
करोत्क्षिप्तकपालेन ननर्त च महेश्वरः। शिखरस्थेन सूर्येण कैलास इव पर्वतः
With the skull lifted in his hand, the great Lord danced, like Mount Kailasa with the sun atop its peak.
छिन्ने वक्त्रे ततो देवा हृष्टास्तं वृषभध्वजम्। तुष्टुवुर्विविधैस्तोत्रैर्देवदेवं कपर्दिनम्
When the head was severed, the gods rejoiced and praised the bull-bannered one, the matted-haired Lord of gods, with many hymns.
देवा ऊचुः। नमः कपालिने नित्यं महाकालस्य कालिने। ऐश्वर्यज्ञानयुक्ताय सर्वभागप्रदायिने
The gods said: 'Salutations always to the skull-bearer, to the one who is the time of great time, endowed with sovereignty and knowledge, the giver of all shares.'
नमो हर्षविलासाय सर्वदेवमयाय च। कलौ संहारकर्ता त्वं महाकालः स्मृतो ह्यसि
'Salutations to the one delighting in joy, who is the essence of all gods; in the age of Kali, you are the destroyer, and are indeed called the great time.'
भक्तानामार्तिनाशस्त्वं दुःखांतस्तेन चोच्यसे। शंकरोष्याशुभक्तानां तेन त्वं शंकरः स्मृतः
'You are the destroyer of the suffering of devotees, and thus are called the ender of pain; you bring happiness to your devotees, and thus are remembered as Shankara.'
छिन्नं ब्रह्मशिरो यस्मात्त्वं कपालं बिभर्षि च। तेन देव कपाली त्वं स्तुतो ह्यद्य प्रसीद नः
'Because you bear the skull, having severed Brahma's head, O god, you are praised today as Kapalin; be gracious to us.'
एवं स्तुतः प्रसन्नात्मा देवान्प्रस्थाप्य शंकरः। स्वानि धिष्ण्यानि भगवांस्तत्रैवासीन्मुदान्वितः
Thus praised, Shankara, his mind pleased, sent the gods back and remained there himself, filled with joy, on his own seat.
विज्ञाय ब्रह्मणो भावं ततो वीरस्य जन्म च। शिरो नीरस्य वाक्यात्तु लोकानां कोपशांतये
Having understood the nature of Brahmā and then the birth of the hero, and by the words of the headless one, for the appeasement of the worlds’ anger—
शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय तुष्टावाथ प्रणम्य तम्। तेजोनिधि परं ब्रह्म ज्ञातुमित्थं प्रजापतिम्
Placing the head in his joined palms, he then praised and bowed to him, the repository of radiance, the supreme Brahman, thus recognizing Prajāpati.
निरुक्तसूक्तरहस्यैर्ऋग्यजुः सामभाषितैः। रुद्र उवाच। अप्रमेय नमस्तेस्तु परमस्य परात्मने
With secret words from the Nirukta, Sūkta, Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāman, Rudra spoke: 'O immeasurable one, salutations to you, the supreme inner self.'
अद्भुतानां प्रसूतिस्त्वं तेजसां निधिरक्षयः। विजयाद्विश्वभावस्त्वं सृष्टिकर्ता महाद्युते
You are the source of wonders, the inexhaustible treasury of energies; from your victory arises the universe, you are the creator, O greatly radiant one.
ऊर्द्ध्ववक्त्र नमस्तेस्तु सत्वात्मकधरात्मक। जलशायिन्जलोत्पन्न जलालय नमोस्तु ते
O upward-faced one, salutations to you, who are the essence of existence and the support of the earth; O you who lie upon the waters, who are born from the waters, who dwell in the waters, salutations to you.
जलजोत्फुल्लपत्राक्ष जय देव पितामह। त्वया ह्युत्पादितः पूर्वं सृष्ट्यर्थमहमीश्वर
O lotus-eyed one with blossoming petals, victory to you, O god, O Grandfather! By you, indeed, I was formerly created for the purpose of creation, O Lord.
यज्ञाहुतिसदाहार यज्ञांगेश नमोऽस्तु ते। स्वर्णगर्भ पद्मगर्भ देवगर्भ प्रजापते
Constant recipient of sacrificial offerings, lord of the limbs of sacrifice, salutations to you; O golden-wombed, lotus-born, divine-wombed Prajāpati!
त्वं यज्ञस्त्वं वषट्कारः स्वधा त्वं पद्मसंभव। वचनेन तु देवानां शिरश्छिन्नं मया प्रभो
You are the sacrifice, you are the vaṣaṭ-call, you are the svadhā, O lotus-born; by the command of the gods, O Lord, I have severed the head.
ब्रह्महत्याभिभूतोस्मि मां त्वं पाहि जगत्पते। इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
I am overcome by the sin of Brahmin-slaying; protect me, O Lord of the world! Thus addressed by the god of gods, Brahmā spoke these words:
ब्रह्मोवाच। सखा नाराणो देवः स त्वां पूतं करिष्यति। कीर्तनीयस्त्वया धन्यः स मे पूज्यः स्वयं विभुः
Brahmā said: 'The god Nārāyaṇa, my friend, will purify you; he is to be praised by you, blessed one, he is to be worshipped by me, the all-pervading one.'
अनुध्यातोऽसि वै नूनं तेन देवेन विष्णुना। येन ते भक्तिरुत्पन्ना स्तोतुं मां मतिरुत्थिता
You are indeed constantly contemplated by that god Viṣṇu, by whom devotion has arisen in you, and the intention to praise me has been awakened.
शिरश्छेदात्कपाली त्वं सोमसिद्धांतकारकः। कोटीः शतं च विप्राणामुद्धर्तासि महाद्युते
Because of the beheading, you are Kapālī, the accomplisher of the Soma rite’s end; you will uplift a hundred crore Brāhmaṇas, O greatly radiant one.
ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं कुर्या नान्यत्किंचन विद्यते। अभाष्याः पापिनः क्रूरा ब्रह्मघ्नाः पापकारिणः
You must undertake the vow for Brahmin-slaying; there is no other means. The wicked, cruel, Brahmin-killers are not to be spoken with.
वैतानिका विकर्मस्था न ते भाष्याः कथंचन। तैस्तु दृष्टैस्तथा कार्यं भास्करस्यावलोकनम्
Those who perform Vaitānika rites but act unrighteously are never to be spoken with; upon seeing them, one should gaze at the sun.