अथोवाच चतुर्वक्त्रो दृष्ट्वा शक्रं तथाविधम्
Then the Four-Faced One, seeing Indra in such a state, spoke.
शक्रोऽयं विबुधश्रेष्ठा ब्रह्महत्यापरिप्लुतः । तस्मातत्त्याज्यः सुदूरेण नो चेत्पापमवाप्स्यथ
This is Indra, best of the gods, overwhelmed by the sin of Brahmin-slaying; therefore, he must be shunned from afar, otherwise you too will incur sin.
पश्यध्वं सर्वलिंगानि ब्रह्महत्यान्वितानि च ६.८.
Behold all the signs, accompanied by the taint of Brahmin-slaying.
पितामहमुखान्दृष्ट्वा देवान्प्राप्तान्सुराधिपः । ततः प्रोवाच संभ्रांतः किमिदं गम्यते सुराः
Seeing the gods led by the Grandfather approach, the lord of the gods, agitated, spoke: 'Why have you come here, O gods?'
कच्चित्स निहतस्तेन मम वज्रेण दानवः
Has that demon been slain by my thunderbolt?
गतो मृत्युवशं पापो न भयं कर्तुमर्हसि
The wicked one has fallen under the power of death; you need not fear.
परं तस्य वधाज्जाता ब्रह्महत्या सुगर्हिता
Yet, from his killing, the grave sin of Brahmin-slaying has arisen.
ब्रह्महत्या न संजाता मम हत्याधुना कथम्
No sin of Brahmin-slaying has come to me from this killing—how can it be so now?
विशुद्धा दानवाः सर्वे तेन जातं न पातकम्
All the demons were pure; therefore, no sin was incurred.
एष यज्ञोपवीताढ्यो विशेषात्तपसि स्थितः। छलेन निहतः शक्र तेन त्वं पापसंयुतः
This one, adorned with the sacred thread, was steadfast in austerity; slain by you through deceit, Indra, you are thus beset by sin.
इन्द्र उवाच जानाम्यहं चतुर्वक्त्र स्वं कायं पापसंयुतम्
Indra said: I know, Four-Faced One, that my own body is tainted with sin.
यया याति द्रुतं पापं ब्रह्महत्यासमुद्भवम् ६.८.
By which means does the sin arising from Brahmin-slaying quickly depart?
तीर्थयात्रां सुरश्रेष्ठ तदर्थं कर्तुमर्हसि । तया विना न ते पापं नाशमायाति कृत्स्नशः
O best of gods, you should undertake a pilgrimage for that purpose; without it, your sin will not be wholly destroyed.
बभ्राम सकलां पृथ्वीं स्नानं कुर्वन्पृथक्पृथक्
He wandered over the whole earth, bathing separately at each place.
तीर्थेषु सुप्रसिद्धेषु नदीनदयुतेषु च
At the most renowned sacred fords and at those abounding in rivers and streams.
अहं स्नातः समस्तेषु तीर्थेषु धरणीतले
I have bathed in all the sacred fords upon the earth.
किं पतामि गिरेः शृंगाद्विषं वा भक्षयामि किम्
Should I fall from the peak of the mountain, or should I consume poison?
एवं वैराग्यमापन्नो गिरिमारुह्य वासवः ॥ यावत्क्षिपति चात्मानं मरणे कृतनिश्चयः
Thus, having become dispassionate, Vāsava climbed the mountain; resolved on death, he prepared to cast himself down.
तावद्देवोत्थिता वाणी गगनाद्द्विजसत्तमाः
At that very moment, O best of twice-born, a divine voice arose from the sky.
त्वया राज्यं प्रकर्तव्यं स्वर्गेऽद्यापि युगाष्टकम्
You must rule in heaven for eight more ages.
कुरुष्व वचनं शीघ्रं भावनीयं न चान्यथा ६.८.
Quickly do what is instructed; it must not be otherwise.
हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे यत्र देवः स्वयं हरः
In the field of Hāṭakeśvara, where the god Hara himself resides,
येन नागा धरापृष्ठे निर्गच्छंति व्रजंति च स्नात्वा पातालगंगायां पूजयस्व महेश्वरम्
where the serpents emerge and return to the earth’s surface—after bathing in the subterranean Gaṅgā, worship Maheśvara.
ततः पापविनिर्मुक्तो भविष्यसि न संशयः
Then you will be freed from sin—of this there is no doubt.
जगाम सत्वरं तत्र यत्र नागबिलः स च
He went swiftly to the place where the serpent’s cave was.
ततः प्रविश्य पातालं गंगातोयपरिप्लुतः
Then, entering the netherworld, he was bathed in the waters of the Gaṅgā.
अथ तस्य क्षणाज्जातं शरीरं मलवर्जितम्
Immediately, his body became free from impurity.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्ता ब्रह्मविष्णुमुखाः सुराः
Meanwhile, the gods led by Brahmā and Viṣṇu arrived there.
प्राप्तस्तु मेध्यतां शक्र विमुक्तो ब्रह्महत्यया
Having attained purity, O Śakra, you were freed from the sin of slaying a Brāhmaṇa.
एतन्नाग बिलं शक्र पुनः पूरय पांसुभिः
O Śakra, fill this serpent’s cave again with earth.