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.
अंगस्पर्शे कृते रुद्र सचैलो जलमाविशेत्। एवं शुद्धिमवाप्नोति पूर्वं दृष्टां मनीषिभिः
When touching the body, O Rudra, with clothes on, one should enter water; thus purification is attained, as was formerly observed by the wise.
स भवान्ब्रह्महन्तासि शुद्ध्यर्थं व्रतमाचर। चीर्णे व्रते पुनर्भूयः प्राप्स्यसि त्वं वरान्बहून्
Therefore, you, being a Brahmin-slayer, must undertake the vow for purification; when the vow is completed, you will again obtain many boons.
एवमुक्त्वा गतो ब्रह्मा रुद्रस्तन्नाभिजज्ञिवान्। अचिंतयत्तदाविष्णुं ध्यानगत्या ततः स्वयं
Having thus spoken, Brahmā departed; Rudra, not recognizing that, then contemplated Viṣṇu by the path of meditation.
लक्ष्मीसहायं वरदं देवदेवं सनातनम्। अष्टांगप्रणिपातेन देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः
With Lakṣmī as his companion, the bestower of boons, the god of gods, the eternal one—before him, the three-eyed god of gods bowed with eightfold prostration.
तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा शंखचक्रगदाधरम्। रुद्र उवाच। परं पराणाममृतं पुराणं परात्परं विष्णुमनंतवीर्यं
Having bowed down, he praised the bearer of the conch, discus, and mace. Rudra said: I praise the Supreme, the highest of the high, the immortal, the ancient, the one beyond all, Vishnu of infinite power.
स्मरामि नित्यं पुरुषं वरेण्यं नारायणं निष्प्रतिमं पुराणम्। परात्परं पूर्वजमुग्रवेगं गंभीरगंभीरधियां प्रधानम्
I always remember the most excellent Person, Narayana, matchless and ancient, the one beyond all, the firstborn, of fierce speed, the profound chief among those of deep intellect.
नतोस्मि देवं हरिमीशितारं परात्परं धामपरं च धाम। परापरं तत्परमं च धाम परापरेशं पुरुषं विशालम्
I bow to the god Hari, the Lord of lords, the supreme, the highest abode and beyond, the source and end of all, the vast Person, ruler of both the transcendent and the immanent.
नारायणं स्तौमि विशुद्धभावं परापरं सूक्ष्ममिदं ससर्ज। सदास्थितत्वात्पुरुषप्रधानं शांतं प्रधानं शरणं ममास्तु
I praise Narayana, of pure nature, subtle and beyond all, who created this world; ever established, the chief among persons, peaceful, the supreme refuge—may he be my shelter.
नारायणं वीतमलं पुराणं परात्परं विष्णुमपारपारम्। पुरातनं नीतिमतां प्रधानं धृतिक्षमाशांतिपरं क्षितीशम्
I praise Narayana, free from stain, ancient, the highest of the high, Vishnu, boundless and limitless, the primeval lord of those who uphold righteousness, foremost in steadfastness, patience, and peace, the lord of the earth.
शुभं सदा स्तौमि महानुभावं सहस्रमूर्द्धानमनेकपादम्। अनंतबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रं क्षराक्षरं क्षीरसमुद्रनिद्रम्
I always praise the auspicious one, of great majesty, with a thousand heads and countless feet, with endless arms, whose eyes are the moon and sun, both perishable and imperishable, who rests upon the ocean of milk.