सोयमायाति भगवांस्त्र्यंबकः शशिभूषणः
He now arrives, the blessed Three-eyed One, adorned with the moon.
धिग्धिक्पदं तु देवानां परं दृष्ट्वाऽत्र शंकरम्
Let the station of the gods be rejected, for here the supreme Shankara is seen.
देवत्वादशुभं किंचिद्देवलोके न विद्यते
From divinity, nothing inauspicious exists in the realm of the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः 4.1.31.
Having spoken thus, Hrishikesha, his body thrilled with joy, continued.
किमिदं देवदेवेन सर्वज्ञेन त्वया विभो
What is this, O Lord of gods, all-knowing one, that you have done, O mighty one?
क्रीडेयं तव देवेश त्रिलोचन महामते
This play is yours, O Lord of gods, Three-eyed one, of great wisdom.
किमर्थं भगवत्र्छंभो भिक्षां चरसि शक्तिप
For what purpose, O blessed Shambhu, do you wander for alms, O powerful one?
एवमुक्तस्ततः शंभुर्विष्णुमेतदुदाहरत्
Thus addressed, Shambhu then spoke this to Vishnu.
तदघप्रतिघं विष्णो चराम्येतद्व्रतं शुभम्
O Vishnu, I undertake this auspicious vow to remove sin.
स्मित्वा किंचिन्नतशिराः पुनरेवं व्यजिज्ञपत्
Smiling slightly, with bowed head, he again declared thus.
मायया मां महादेव नच्छादयितुमर्हसि
By illusion, O Mahadeva, you should not conceal me.
कल्पे कल्पे सृजामीश त्वन्नियोगबलाद्विभो
In every cycle, O Lord, I create by the power of your command, O mighty one.
मदाद्यो महादेव मायया तव मोहिताः
From the beginning, O Mahadeva, I am deluded by your illusion.
संहारकाले संप्राप्ते सदेवानखिलान्मुनीन् 4.1.31.
When the time of dissolution arrives, with all the gods and sages.
तदा क्व ते महादेव पाप ब्रह्मवधादिकम्
Then, O Mahadeva, where is your sin, such as the killing of Brahma?
अतीतब्रह्मणामस्थ्नां स्रक्कंठे तव भासते
The garland of bones of past Brahmas shines upon your neck.
कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं त्वां यः स्मरति भावतः
Even if one has committed a great sin, whoever remembers you with devotion—
यथा तमो न तिष्ठेत संनिधावंशुमालिनः
Just as darkness cannot remain in the presence of the radiant sun—
यश्चिंतयति पुण्यात्मा तव पादांबुजद्वयम्
Whoever, possessing a virtuous soul, contemplates your two lotus feet—
तव नामानुरक्ता वाग्यस्य पुंसो जगत्पते
Or whose speech is devoted to your name, O Lord of the world—
रजसा तमसा विवर्धितं क्व नु पापं परितापदायकम्
Where then is the sin, intensified by passion and ignorance, that causes distress?
यदि जातुचिदंधकद्विषस्तवनामौष्ठपुटाद्विनिःसृतम्
If ever, from the lips of your enemy, your name is uttered—
परमात्मन्परंधाम स्वेच्छा विधृत विग्रह
Supreme Self, highest abode, you have assumed form by your own will—
अद्य धन्योस्मि देवेश यं न पश्यति योगिनः 4.1.31.
Today I am blessed, O Lord of the gods, whom even yogis do not see.
अवियोगोऽस्तु मे देव त्वदंघ्रियुगलेन वै 4.1.31.
May I never be separated, O Lord, from your pair of feet.
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यस्या नाम्नोपि कीर्तनात् 4.1.31.
Even the sins of killing a Brahmin and others are destroyed by merely chanting your name.
महाश्मशानमासाद्य यदि देवाद्विपद्यते 4.1.31.
If, upon reaching the great cremation ground, one falls from the gods—
तीर्थे कालोदके स्नात्वा कृत्वा तर्पणमत्वरः 4.1.31.
Having bathed in the sacred waters at the holy place and performed the offering without delay—
स्कंद उवाच पुनर्विशेषं वक्ष्यामि सदाचारस्य कुंभज
Skanda said: I will again speak in detail about the conduct of the virtuous, O son of Kumbha.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्यास्त्रयो वर्णा द्विजाः स्मृताः
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas—these three castes are considered twice-born.