इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा देवि देवैः प्रणतिपूर्वकम्
Thus addressed by the gods, O Devi, with reverence, I was spoken to at that time.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
This, O Devi, has been told to you—the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये केदारेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-seventh chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Kedāreśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avanti Khanda of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
शृणु देवि प्रयत्नेन दर्शनात्पापनाशनम्
Listen, O Devi, with attention: the mere sight destroys sin.
आदौ कलियुगे देवि शूद्रो बहुधनोऽभवत्
At the beginning of the Kali Yuga, O Devi, a Śūdra became very wealthy.
अब्रह्मण्यो नृशंसश्च कदर्यो निरपत्रपः
He was irreligious, cruel, miserly, and shameless.
त्रिवर्गहंता चान्येषामात्मकामानुवर्त्तकः
He destroyed the three aims of life for others and followed only his own desires.
मरुदेशे पिशाचोऽभून्नग्नो दीनो भयावहः
In the desert region, he became a piśāca—naked, miserable, and terrifying.
बहवो मर्द्दितास्तेन पिशाचा बलवत्तराः
Many piśācas, stronger than others, were crushed by him.
अथ तेनैव मार्गेण कदाचिच्छाकटायनः
Then, by that same path, once, Śākaṭāyana came.
उदयादित्यसंकाशो विभावसुसमद्युतिः
He shone with the radiance of the rising sun, brilliant like fire.
गतो ददर्श तं रौद्रं पिशाचं च भयावहम्
He went and saw that fierce and terrifying piśāca.
दृष्ट्वा तं शकटारूढं ब्राह्मणं शाकटायनम् 5.2.68.
Seeing Śākaṭāyana, the Brāhmaṇa, riding on a cart,
तथारूपः पिशाचस्तु कर्णाभ्यां बधिरीकृतः तं धावंतं समालोक्य पिशाचं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्
That piśāca, in such a form, was made deaf in both ears; seeing him running, the Brāhmaṇa spoke to the piśāca.
पिशाच त्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे
O piśāca, you appear frightened and are seen to be hurrying.
पिशाच उवाच शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयंकरम्
The piśāca said: Hearing the loud and terrifying sound of this great cart,
ब्राह्मण उवाच पिशाचानां बलिष्ठाश्च श्रूयंते ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
The Brahmin said: Among the Piśācas, the Brahmarākṣasas are known to be the most powerful.
पिशाच उवाच दुःखं हि मृत्युः सर्वेषां जीवितं च सुदुर्ल्लभम्
The Piśāca said: Truly, death is suffering for all, and life is exceedingly difficult to obtain.
पैशाची कुत्सिता योनिः पापिनामेव जायते
The Piśāca birth is a vile womb, and it arises only for the sinful.
तस्माज्जीवितुमिच्छामि प्रसीद ब्रह्मराक्षस
Therefore, I wish to live—be gracious, O Brahmarākṣasa.
सर्वभूतहितार्थाय विचरामि महीतले
For the welfare of all beings, I wander upon the earth.
सर्वेषामेव जंतूनां मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते
It is said that a Brahmin is a friend to all living creatures.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पिशाचः स्वस्थमानसः 5.2.68.
Hearing those words, the Piśāca became calm in mind.
यदि ते सर्वभूतानां दत्ता ह्यभयदक्षिणा
If you have indeed granted the gift of fearlessness to all beings—
पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग संशयो हृदये स्थितः
I ask you, O greatly fortunate one, for a doubt remains in my heart.
केन कर्मविपाकेन पैशाचं याति मानवः
By what action and its result does a human attain a Piśāca birth?
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पिशाचस्य वरानने
Hearing these words of the Piśāca, O beautiful-faced one—
अपहृत्य च विप्रस्वं देवस्वं च विशेषतः
One who steals the property of a Brahmin, and especially the property of the gods—
पितरं मातरं चैव स्त्रियं बालं द्विजं तथा
One who harms father, mother, woman, child, or a twice-born—
राजद्रव्यं गृहीत्वा तु न यजेन्न ददाति यः
One who takes royal wealth but does not perform sacrifices or give gifts—