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.
तत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानामुत्तमं परिकीर्तितम्। त्यजंति तत्र ये प्राणान्प्राणिनः प्रणतास्तव
That sacred place is proclaimed as the highest among all holy sites; those living beings who surrender their lives there, O devoted one, are blessed.
रुद्रत्वं ते समासाद्य मोदंते भवता सह। तत्रापि हि तु यद्दत्तं दानं रुद्र यतात्मना
Having attained the state of Rudra, they rejoice together with you; and whatever gift is given there by one devoted to Rudra yields great reward.
स्यान्महच्च फलं तस्य भविता भावितात्मनः। स्वांगस्फुटित संस्कारं तत्र कुर्वंति ये नराः
For the one of purified mind, the fruit of such action is immense; those who perform their own rites there with clarity and sincerity.
ते रुद्रलोकमासाद्य मोदंते सुखिनः सदा। तत्र पूजा जपो होमः कृतो भवति देहिनां
They attain the realm of Rudra and always dwell in happiness; worship, recitation, and sacrificial offerings performed there by embodied beings are fulfilled.
अनंतफलदः स्वर्गो रुद्रभक्तियुतात्मनः। तत्र दीपप्रदाने तु ज्ञानचक्षुर्भवेन्नरः
Heaven yields endless rewards to those whose hearts are devoted to Rudra; and by offering lamps there, a person attains the eye of wisdom.
अव्यंगं तरुणं सौम्यं रूपवंतं तु गोसुतम्। योङ्कयित्वा मोचयति स याति परमं पदम्
Whoever liberates a flawless, youthful, gentle, and handsome calf, that person attains the supreme state.
पितृभिः सहितो मोक्षं गच्छते नात्र संशयः। अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन यत्तत्र क्रियते नरैः२०० 1.14.
He goes to liberation together with his ancestors; there is no doubt about this. Why speak at length? Whatever is performed there by people—
कर्मधर्मं समुद्दिश्य तदनंतफलं भवेत्। स्वर्गापवर्गयोर्हेतुस्तद्धि तीर्थम्मतं भुवि
When actions are performed according to duty, their result is endless; that sacred place is regarded as the cause of heaven and liberation on earth.
स्नानाज्जपात्तथा होमादनंतफलसाधनम्। गत्वा वाराणसीतीर्थं भक्त्या रुद्रपरायणाः
Bathing, recitation, and sacrificial offerings are means to endless rewards; those devoted to Rudra who go to the sacred site of Varanasi with faith—
ये तत्र पंचतां प्राप्ता भक्तास्ते नात्र संशयः। वसवः पितरो ज्ञेया रुद्राश्चैव पितामहाः
Those devotees who pass away there, there is no doubt; they are to be known as Vasus, ancestors, Rudras, and grandfathers.