महता तनुसाध्येन बहुकालार्जितेन वः
By you, it has been achieved through great effort, with a body subdued and over a long period of time.
ऊचुरुन्नाम्य वक्त्राणि स्थिता जानुभिरीश्वरम्
They bowed their faces and, kneeling, spoke to the Lord.
तदस्माकं प्रवृत्तानां मानुषाणां वरप्रद
O bestower of boons, for us mortals who have come forth,
रक्षां कुरुष्व देवेश भक्तानामभयंकर
grant protection, O Lord of the gods, giver of fearlessness to your devotees.
सुदुर्लभान्यपि पुनर्दास्यामि वो वरान्बहून् ।। 5.1.6.
Even those boons that are exceedingly rare, I will again grant to you, many in number.
एवमुक्ते भगवता ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
When the Blessed One had spoken thus, Brahmā replied with these words:
प्राप्ता वयं च भगवन्सुपर्याप्तो महावरः
O Blessed One, we have received the great boon, and it is more than sufficient.
शिव उवाच लोकेऽस्मिन्मम ये भक्ता मया विनिहताश्च ये
Śiva said: In this world, those who are my devotees and those whom I have slain,
सार्धं तत्र जटाजूटैः शिरोभिः शूलपाणयः
together with their matted locks and heads, bearing tridents in their hands,
येषां विनिग्रहार्थाय युष्मत्संबोधनाय च
for the purpose of restraining them and for addressing you,
कृतो मेऽनुग्रहस्तेषां भक्तानां भक्तिमिच्छताम्
I have bestowed my grace upon those devotees who desire devotion.
महाकालवने देवा आगतस्य ममानघाः
In the great Kāla forest, O sinless ones, the gods came to me.
नामद्वययुतं गुह्यं लोके ख्यातं भविष्यति
A secret name with two words will become renowned in the world.
कपालव्रतचर्या च मया ह्येषा प्रकीर्तिता
Indeed, this observance of the skull vow has been proclaimed by me.
कपालपाणिः संतुष्टो भिक्षा व्रतसमन्वितः 5.1.6.
Kapālapāṇi, satisfied and endowed with the vow of alms,
नंदितः सर्वभूतेषु प्रियाप्रियसमः सदा
Honored among all beings, always equal to friend and foe,
जितेंद्रियोऽसर्वसंगो मृद्भस्मोदकसंग्रही
Self-controlled, unattached to all, gathering clay, ashes, and water,
पुण्यतीर्थाश्रमोपेतः स्वरे देवे समाहितः
Dwelling in holy hermitages and sacred fords, his mind fixed on the Lord,
कपालव्रतमास्थाय पुरा चीर्णं मया स्वयम्
Having undertaken the skull vow, I myself practiced it in ancient times.
कपालव्रतमेतद्धि दुर्धरं परमाद्भुतम्
This skull vow is indeed difficult to sustain and supremely wondrous.
महाव्रतं द्विषन्मोहात्पापेनैव स्थितो नरः
A man, due to hatred and delusion, remains in sin, abandoning the great vow.
महापाशुपतं तस्मान्न हन्यान्न च दूषयेत्
Therefore, one should neither harm nor revile the great Pāśupata.
एवं महाव्रतं यस्तु भोजयेच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः
Whoever, endowed with faith, feeds one observing this great vow,
कपालपूरणीं भिक्षां यतीनां यः प्रयच्छति
Whoever gives alms filling the skull to ascetics,
कपाले भोजनं श्रेष्ठं मार्गोऽयं ब्रह्मसंभवः 5.1.6.
Food in the skull is supreme; this path is born of Brahman.
इत्यादिदुष्टदोषश्च तस्य संभाषणादपि 5.1.6.
Thus, even by conversing with him, such faults and evils arise.
दृष्ट्वा च शिष्टमथ ३ महाव्रतधरो नरः
And seeing the remainder, then the man who upholds the great vow—
एतत्कृतयुगे सर्वं प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते वने 5.1.6.
In this Kṛta age, all this is seen directly in the forest.
पठति य इह लोके तस्य संस्थानमेतत्प्रथितगुणगणौघैरर्चितं दोषहं तत्
Whoever recites this here in the world, for him this abode—honored by hosts of renowned virtues and destroyer of faults—belongs.
रुद्रलोकमभीप्सद्भिर्वस्तव्यं क्षेत्रवासिभिः
Those who desire the world of Rudra should dwell as residents of sacred places.