अस्थिध्वजांकितं दृष्ट्वा यथा पांथा जलाशयम्
Upon seeing the mark of the ash-banner, just as a traveler sees a water reservoir,
कृतभूति तनुत्राणं शिवमंत्रैर्नरोत्तमम्
Having protected the body with sacred ash and Shiva's mantras, the best of men,
सर्वेभ्यो दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्यो यतो रक्षेदहर्निशम्
He is protected day and night from all evil beings.
भासनाद्भर्त्सनाद्भस्म पांसुः पांसुत्वदायतः
From shining and rebuking, the ash becomes dust, extended into dustiness.
गृहीत्वा धारमध्यात्स भस्म प्रेतकरेऽर्पयत्
Taking it, he placed the ash in the hand of the departed.
विभूतिधारिणं वीक्ष्य पिशाचं जलदेवताः
Seeing the bearer of sacred ash, the water deities regarded the ghost.
स्नात्वा पीत्वा स निर्गच्छेद्यावत्तस्माज्जलाशयात् 4.2.54.७
After bathing and drinking, he should depart from that reservoir of water.
दिव्यमालांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः
Wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with heavenly fragrances,
गच्छता तेन गगने स तपस्वी नमस्कृतः
As he went through the sky, that ascetic was saluted.
तस्मात्कदर्ययोनित्वादतीव परिनिंदितात्
Therefore, from that low and greatly condemned birth,
पिशाचमोचनं तीर्थमद्यारभ्य समाख्यया
From today, this holy place is called the 'Ghost Liberation Tirtha.'
अस्मिंस्तीर्थे महापुण्ये ये स्नास्यंतीह मानवाः
Those humans who will bathe at this most sacred tirtha,
दैवात्पैशाच्यमापन्नास्तेषां पितृपितामहाः
If, by fate, they have fallen into ghosthood, their fathers and grandfathers,
अद्यशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां मार्गेमासि तपोनिधे
Today, on the bright fourteenth day in the month of Margashirsha, O treasure of austerity,
इमां सांवत्सरीं यात्रां ये करिष्यंति मानवाः
Those people who perform this annual pilgrimage,
पिशाचमोचने स्नात्वा कपर्दीशं समर्च्य च
after bathing at Piśācamocana and worshipping Kapardīśa,
मार्गशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां कपर्दीश्वर संनिधौ 4.2.54.
on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, in the presence of Kapardīśvara,
इत्युक्त्वा दिव्यपुरुषो भूयोभूयो नमस्य तम्
Having spoken thus, the divine person again and again bowed to him.
तपोधनोपि तं दृष्ट्वा महाश्चर्यं घटोद्भव
And the ascetic, seeing him, O Ghaṭodbhava, was greatly astonished.
पिशाचमोचनं तीर्थं तदारभ्य महामुने
From that time, O great sage, Piśācamocana became a sacred place.
श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं नरो नियतमानसः
Whoever hears this auspicious chapter with a controlled mind,
बालग्रहाभिभूतानां बालानां शांतिकारकम्
it brings peace to children afflicted by balagrahas.
इदमाख्यानमाकर्ण्य गच्छन्देशांतरं नरः
Hearing this narration, a man who goes to another land—
अन्येपि ये गणास्तत्र काश्यां लिंगानि चक्रिरे
Other hosts also there in Kāśī established liṅgas.
गणेन पिंगलाख्येन पिंगलाख्येशसंज्ञितम्
By the host named Piṃgala, the liṅga called Piṃgalākheśa was established.
तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पापानां जायते क्षयः
By merely seeing it, the destruction of sins occurs.
वीरभद्रेश्वरं लिंगं ध्यायेदद्यापि निश्चलः
Even today, one should meditate steadfastly on the liṅga of Vīrabhadreśvara.
अविमुक्तेश्वरात्पश्चाद्वीरभद्रेश्वरं नरः
After Avimukteśvara, a man should worship Vīrabhadreśvara.
वीरभद्रः स्वयं साक्षाद्वीरमूर्तिधरो मुने
Vīrabhadra himself, O sage, appears in a heroic form.
भद्रया भद्रकाल्या च भार्यया शुभया युतम्
He is united with his auspicious wife Bhadrā, Bhadrakālī.