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.
एतल्लिंगं समभ्यर्च्य स्नात्वा भागीरथीजले ६.८.
After worshipping this liṅga and bathing in the waters of the Bhāgīrathī,
ततो जज्ञे महांस्तत्र स्वर्गे वृत्रवधोत्सवः
Then, in heaven, a great festival was celebrated for the slaying of Vṛtra.
माहात्म्यं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः सर्वपातकनाशनम्
O best of Brāhmaṇas, this greatness destroys all sins.
यश्चैतत्कीर्तयेद्भक्त्या शृणोति च समाहितः
Whoever recites this with devotion, or listens with concentration,
हाटकेश्वरजेक्षेत्रे महान्नागबिलोऽस्ति वै
In the sacred region of Hatakeshvara, there is indeed a great serpent's cavern.
तं पूरय ममादेशाद्द्रुतं गत्वाऽभिपांसुभिः
Go swiftly and, by my command, fill it with earth and sand.
लिंगोद्भवस्तदा शापः प्रदत्तो मे पुरारिणा
At that time, the curse of emergence in the form of a linga was pronounced upon me by the enemy of the cities.
यस्माल्लिंगं ममैतद्वै त्वया पांसुभिरावृतम्
Because this linga of mine has been covered by you with earth,
यद्वत्कर्पूरजं गन्धं समग्रं त्वं हि वक्ष्यसि
just as you will declare the complete fragrance of camphor,
तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे विदित्वैतत्सुरेश्वर
therefore, O Lord of the gods, be gracious to me, knowing this.