Skanda Purana

आवयोरंतरं कोसौ बिभृयात्पुरुषाकृतिम्

Who is this, in human form, standing between us?

स्रष्टा क्षणेन च महान्पुरुषो नीललोहितः

In a moment, the great Person, blue and red in hue, was created.

हिरण्यगर्भस्तं प्राह जाने त्वां चंद्रशेखरम्

Hiraṇyagarbha said to him, 'I know you, O wearer of the crescent moon.'

रोदनाद्रुद्रनामापि योजितोसि मया पुरा 4.1.31.

Because of your weeping, I formerly gave you the name Rudra.

अथेश्वरः पद्मयोनेः श्रुत्वा गर्ववतीं गिरम्

Then the Lord, hearing the proud words of the lotus-born one,

प्राह पंकजजन्मासौ शास्यस्ते कालभैरव

said, 'This one born from the lotus will be instructed by you, Kālabhairava.'

विश्वं भर्तुं समर्थोऽसि भरणाद्भैरवः स्मृतः

You are able to sustain the universe; therefore you are called Bhairava, the Sustainer.

आमर्दयिष्यति भवांस्तुष्टो दुष्टात्मनो यतः

Because you will crush the wicked when pleased,

यतः पापानि भक्तानां भक्षयिष्यति तत्क्षणात्

and because you will instantly devour the sins of devotees,

या मे मुक्तिपुरी काशी सर्वाभ्योपि गरीयसी

My city of liberation, Kāśī, is greater than all others.

तत्र ये पापकर्तारस्तेषां शास्ता त्वमेव हि

There, you alone are the chastiser of those who commit sins.

एतान्वरान्प्रगृह्याऽथ तत्क्षणात्कालभैरवः

Then Kālabhairava, having accepted these boons, at that very moment—

यदंगमपराध्नोति कार्यं तस्यैव शासनम्

Whenever someone commits a transgression, his punishment is to be carried out by you.

यज्ञमूर्तिधरो विष्णुस्ततस्तुष्टाव शंकरम् 4.1.31.

Then Viṣṇu, bearer of the form of sacrifice, praised Śaṅkara.

आश्वास्य तौ महादेवः प्रीतः प्रणतवत्सलः

The great god, pleased and affectionate to those who bow, comforted them both.

मान्योऽध्वरोसौ भवता तथा शतधृतिस्त्वयम्

This one is worthy of worship as the lord of sacrifice by you, and this is Śatadhṛti.

ब्रह्महत्यापनोदाय व्रतं लोकाय दर्शयन् इत्युक्त्वांऽतर्हितो देवस्तेजोरूपस्तदा शिवः

To remove the sin of Brahmin-killing, he showed a vow to the world; having said this, the god, Śiva, then vanished in a form of light.

उत्पाद्य कन्यामेकां तु ब्रह्महत्येति विश्रुताम्

He produced a maiden, known as Brahmahatyā.

दंष्टाकरालवदनां ललज्जिह्वातिभीषणाम्

Her face was terrifying with protruding fangs and a lolling tongue.

कर्त्रीं कर्परहस्ताग्रां स्फुरत्पिंगोग्रतारकाम्

Holding a knife in her hand, with a skull at her fingertips, her eyes blazing fiercely and flashing yellow.

यावद्वाराणसीं दिव्यां पुरीमेष गमिष्यति

Until he reaches the divine city of Varanasi, this is his journey.

सर्वत्र ते प्रवेशोस्ति त्यक्त्वा वाराणसीं पुरीम्

Everywhere you have entry, except for the city of Varanasi.

तत्सान्निध्याद्भैरवोपि कालोभूत्कालकालतः

Because of his presence, even Bhairava became Time, the destroyer of Time.

कपालपाणिर्विश्वात्मा चचार भुवनत्रयम् 4.1.31.

With a skull in his hand, the soul of the universe wandered through the three worlds.

सत्यलोकेपि वैकुंठे महेंद्रादि पुरीष्वपि

Even in Satyaloka, Vaikuntha, and the cities of Mahendra and others,

प्रतितीर्थं भ्रमन्नापि विमुक्तो ब्रह्महत्यया

Though he wandered to every sacred place, he was not freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

अनेनैवानुमानेन महिमा त्ववगम्यताम्

By this very inference, let the greatness be understood.

संति तीर्थान्यनेकानि बहून्यायतनानि च

There are many sacred places and numerous shrines.

तावद्गर्जंति पापानि ब्रहत्यादिकान्यलम्

So long do sins roar, especially those like Brahminicide.