उत्तमा जायते नारी यथा देवी उमा तथा
A woman of highest quality is born, just as the goddess Umā.
धार्यौ नार्या हि तौ देवौ स्वयं तुलावरोहणे
Those two deities must be worn by the woman herself during the weighing ceremony.
तत्र दत्तं हुतं जप्तं सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्
Whatever is given, offered, or recited there becomes a millionfold.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसां लोके मृता याति न संशयः
There is no doubt that, after death, she attains the realm of Gandharvas and Apsarases.
दृष्ट्वा ते परमां सिद्धिं प्राप्नुतो दंपती तदा संपूज्य गंधपुष्पैश्च रुद्रलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Having seen the supreme attainment, the couple then, after worshipping with fragrant flowers, may reach the world of Rudra.
यथा देव्याः स्वरूपेण वियोगो नैव दृश्यते
Just as separation is never seen in the true form of the goddess,
एवं कृत्वाथ तां विप्र सर्वाश्च त्रिदिवं गताः
Thus, having done so, O Brahmin, all those women have gone to heaven.
दक्षिणे पृष्ठदेव्या वै माहिषं कुण्डमुच्यते 5.1.8.
To the south, behind the goddess, is called the Maheṣa pond.
तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा मातॄः संपूज्य यत्नतः
There, at that sacred place, a man, after bathing and carefully worshipping the Mothers,
रुद्रस्यैव कथं क्षेत्रे महिषो दानवो हतः
How was the demon Maheṣa slain in the field of Rudra?
कपालखंडमादायं महादेवोऽप्यतिप्रभम् । ब्रह्मतेजो मयं दिव्यं ज्वलंतमिव चार्चिषा
Taking up the fragment of the skull, radiant and filled with the brilliance of Brahma's energy, the great Lord shone like a blazing flame.
क्रीडमानो जगन्नाथो मोहयामास वै सुरान्
The Lord of the universe, sporting in play, bewildered the gods.
प्राप्य पुण्यतमं क्षेत्रं यत्रातिष्ठन्महाप्रभुः
Having reached the most sacred field, where the great Lord resided,
स्थापयामास दीप्तार्चिर्गणानामग्रतः प्रभुः
The Lord placed the flaming skull before the hosts of his attendants.
विनदत्समहानादं नादयंत दिशो दश
Uttering a mighty roar, they resounded in all ten directions.
तेन शब्देन घोरेण दानवो देवकंटकः
By that terrible sound, the demon—scourge of the gods—
अमृष्यमाणः क्रोधार्तो दुरात्मा दुर्जयः सुरैः
Unable to endure it, seized by wrath, that wicked one, unconquerable by the gods,
दैत्यैः परिवृतो घोरै कोटिभिश्चोद्यतायुधैः
Surrounded by fierce demons, by the tens of millions, all armed for battle,
समावेक्ष्याह वै देवो गणान्सर्वा न्पिनाकधृक् 5.1.9.
Seeing this, the Lord, bearer of the Pinaka bow, addressed all the hosts:
आयाति त्वरितो यूयं तस्मादेनं विनिघ्नथ
He comes swiftly—therefore, you must slay him.
ततो देवगणा दृष्ट्वा तमायांतं महासुरम्
Then, seeing that great demon approaching,
बिभिदुः शलसंघातैरसिभि र्मुसलैस्तथा
The hosts of gods struck him with showers of arrows, swords, and maces.
हते तस्मिन्महादेवो देवान्प्रोवाच वै तदा
When he was slain, the great Lord then spoke to the gods.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्यास तत्कपालात्सुभैरवाः
Meanwhile, Vyasa, from that skull arose the fierce Bhairavas.
अभ्यधावंस्तमुद्देशं महादेवं निवेद्य वै
They rushed to that place, reporting to the great Lord.
कपालमातरस्तस्मात्ख्याताः क्षेत्रे महाबलाः
From that, the Mothers of the Skull became renowned in the field, possessing great power.
स्थापितस्य कपालस्य भित्त्वा समभवत्पुरा
Long ago, when the skull was established and split open, it came to be.
तदद्यापि महद्दिव्यं सरस्तत्र प्रकाशते
Even today, that great and divine lake shines forth there.
पात्रस्थमुद्धुतं वापि शीतोष्णं क्वथितं जलम् 5.1.9.
Whether water is placed in a vessel, poured out, cold, hot, or boiled—
प्रागाद्ब्रह्मापि तं देशं देवतानां शतैर्वृतः
Formerly, even Brahmā, surrounded by hundreds of deities, came to that place.