वत्सगुल्मं च गोकर्णं तथा चैवोत्तरान्कुरून्। भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च वर्षं हैरण्यकं तथा
He went to Vatsagulma, Gokarna, and also the northern Kurus, Bhadrashva, Ketumala, and the land of Hiranyaka.
कामरूपं प्रभासं च महेंद्रं चैव पर्वतम्। ब्रह्महत्याभिभूतोसौ भ्रमंस्त्राणं न विंदति
He went to Kamarupa, Prabhasa, and the great mountain Mahendra; afflicted by the sin of Brahman-killing, he found no refuge.
त्रपान्वितः कपालं तु पश्यन्हस्तगतं सदा। करौ विधुन्वन्बहुशो विक्षिप्तश्च मुहुर्मुहुः
Ashamed, always seeing the skull in his hand, he shook his hands again and again, repeatedly casting it away.
यदास्य धुन्वतो हस्तौ कपालं पतते न तु। तदास्य बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना व्रतं चैतत्करोम्यहम्
When, as he shook his hands, the skull did not fall, then understanding arose in him: 'I will undertake this vow.'
मदीयेनैव मार्गेण द्विजा यास्यंति सर्वतः। ध्यात्वैवं सुचिरं देवो वसुधां विचचार ह
By my very path, O twice-born, all will go everywhere; thus, having meditated for a long time, the god wandered the earth.
पुष्करं तु समासाद्य प्रविष्टोऽरण्यमुत्तमम्। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं नानामृगरवाकुलम्
Reaching Pushkara, he entered the supreme forest, filled with various trees and creepers, and crowded with the cries of many animals.
द्रुमपुष्पभरामोद वासितं यत्सुवायुना। बुद्धिपूर्वमिव न्यस्तैः पुष्पैर्भूषितभूतलम्
The air was scented with the fragrance of tree blossoms, and the earth was adorned with flowers as if thoughtfully arranged.
नानागधंरसैरन्यैः पक्वापक्वैः फलैस्तथा। विवेश तरुवृंदेन पुष्पामोदाभिनंदितः
There were many kinds of fragrant juices and both ripe and unripe fruits; he entered the grove of trees, filled with the scent of blossoms.
अत्राराधयतो भक्त्या ब्रह्मा दास्यति मे वरम्। ब्रह्मप्रसादात्संप्राप्तं पौष्करं ज्ञानमीप्सितम्
Here, as he worships with devotion, Brahma will grant me a boon; by Brahma's grace, the desired knowledge of Pushkara will be attained.
पापघ्नं दुष्टशमनं पुष्टिश्रीबलवर्द्धनम्। एवं वै ध्यायतस्तस्य रुद्रस्यामिततेजसः
It destroys sin, subdues the wicked, and increases nourishment, prosperity, and strength; thus, as Rudra of immeasurable brilliance meditates.
आजगाम ततो ब्रह्मा भक्तिप्रीतोऽथ कंजजः। उवाच प्रणतं रुद्रमुत्थाप्य च पुनर्गुरुः
Then Brahmā, the lotus-born, pleased by devotion, arrived there; and, raising the bowed Rudra, the venerable one spoke again.
दिव्यव्रतोपचारेण सोहमाराधितस्त्वया। भवता श्रद्धयात्यर्थं ममदर्शनकांक्षया
By your observance of divine vows and offerings, you have worshipped me; with great faith and longing for my vision.
व्रतस्था मां हि पश्यंति मनुष्या देवतास्तथा। तदिच्छया प्रयच्छामि वरं यत्प्रवरं वरम्
Those who are steadfast in vows behold me—humans as well as gods; by that wish, I grant the highest boon you desire.
सर्वकामप्रसिद्ध्यर्थं व्रतं यस्मान्निषेवितम्। मनोवाक्कायभावैश्च संतुष्टेनांतरात्मना
Because you have observed this vow for the fulfillment of all desires, with mind, speech, body, and inner self fully satisfied,
कं ददामि च वै कामं वद भोस्ते यथेप्सितम्। रुद्र उवाच। एष एवाद्य भगवन्सुपर्याप्तो महा वरः
Tell me, O blessed one, what wish you desire—I shall grant it. Rudra said: This very boon, O Lord, is today most sufficient.
यद्दृष्टोसि जगद्वंद्य जगत्कर्तर्नमोस्तुते। महता यज्ञसाध्येन बहुकालार्जितेन च
That you have been seen, O creator of the world, worshipped by all, I bow to you; through great sacrifice and long-acquired austerity.
प्राणव्ययकरेण त्वं तपसा देव दृश्यते। इदं कपालं देवेश न करात्पतितं विभो
By austerity that exhausts the life-breath, O God, you are seen; O Lord of gods, this skull has not fallen from my hand.
त्रपाकरा ऋषीणां च चर्यैषा कुत्सिता विभो। त्वत्प्रसादाद्व्रतं चेदं कृतं कापालिकं तु यत्
This practice, O Lord, is a cause of shame among the sages and is considered base; yet, by your grace, this vow of the skull-bearer has been performed.
सिद्धमेतत्प्रपन्नस्य महाव्रतमिहोच्यताम्। पुण्यप्रदेशे यस्मिंस्तु क्षिपामीदं वदस्व मे
Let this great vow be declared accomplished for the one who has sought refuge; tell me, in what sacred place shall I cast this?
पूतो भवामि येनाहं मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। ब्रह्मोवाच। अविमुक्तं भगवतः स्थानमस्ति पुरातनम्
By which I may become pure among the sages of purified mind. Brahmā said: There is an ancient place of the Lord called Avimukta.
कपालमोचनं तीर्थं तव तत्र भविष्यति। अहं च त्वं स्थितस्तत्र विष्णुश्चापि भविष्यति
There, the holy site Kapālamocana will be for you; I, you, and Viṣṇu will be present there.
दर्शने भवतस्तत्र महापातकिनोपि ये। तेपि भोगान्समश्नंति विशुद्धा भवने मम
There, at your sight, even those who are great sinners enjoy pleasures and become purified in my abode.
वरणापि असीचापि द्वे नद्यौ सुरवल्लभे। अंतराले तयोः क्षेत्रे वध्या न विशति क्वचित्
The two rivers, Varaṇā and Asī, beloved of the gods, flow there; within the field between them, no one destined for death ever enters.
तीर्थानां प्रवरं तीर्थं क्षेत्राणां प्रवरं तव। आदेहपतनाद्ये तु क्षेत्रं सेवंति मानवाः
That is the foremost of holy places, the foremost of fields for you; from the moment of bodily fall, people serve that field.
ते मृता हंसयानेन दिवं यांत्यकुतोभयाः। पंचक्रोशप्रमाणेन क्षेत्रं दत्तं मया तव
Those who die there go to heaven in a swan-chariot, free from all fear; a field five krośas in extent has been given to you by me.
क्षेत्रमध्याद्यदा गंगा गमिष्यति सरित्पतिम्। तदा सा महती पुण्या पुरी रुद्र भविष्यति
When the Gaṅgā will flow to the lord of rivers through the middle of that field, then, O Rudra, that city will become supremely holy.
पुण्या चोदङ्मुखी गंगा प्राची चापि सरस्वती। उदङ्मुखी योजने द्वे गच्छते जाह्नवी नदी
The Gaṅgā, pure and facing north, and Sarasvatī flowing eastward; the Jāhnavī river flows two yojanas northward.
तत्र वै विबुधाः सर्वे मया सह सवासवाः। आगता वासमेष्यंति कपालं तत्र मोचय
There, indeed, all the gods along with me and Indra will come and dwell; there, release the skull.
तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु ये गत्वा पिण्डदानेन वै पितॄन्। श्राद्धैस्तु प्रीणयिष्यंति तेषां लोकोऽक्षयो दिवि
Those who go to that sacred place and honor their ancestors with offerings of food and rites, their world in heaven is imperishable.
वाराणस्यां महातीर्थे नरः स्नातो विमुच्यते। सप्तजन्मकृतात्पापाद्गमनादेव मुच्यते
A person who bathes at the great sacred site of Varanasi is freed from the sins of seven births; even by visiting, one is liberated.