तत्कपालं सदस्येन उक्षिप्तं पाणिना स्वयम्
That skull was thrown by the assembly member himself with his hand.
एवं नांतं कपालानां प्राप्यते मुनिसत्तमाः
Thus, O best of sages, the end of the skulls is not attained.
ततः स दर्शनं प्रादाद्भक्त्या तुष्टो महेश्वरः
Then Maheśvara, pleased by devotion, granted a vision.
वरं वरय भो ब्रह्मन्यत्ते मनसि वर्तते
Choose a boon, O Brahman, whatever abides in your mind.
ब्रह्मोत्तरमिदं स्थानं मया दत्तं चतुर्मुख
This supreme place of Brahma I have given to you, O four-faced one.
एवं वदंतं वरदमीशानं परमेश्वरम् ।। तथेति चोक्त्वा सदसि न मयाऽन्यो वरो वृतः
Thus, as Parameśvara, the boon-giver, was speaking, I said in the assembly, 'No other boon was chosen by me.'
उज्जयिनीति वै नाम कुशस्थल्या निवेशितम्
Ujjayinī is the name of a settlement established in Kuśasthalī.
तत्र विप्राः कृते स्नाने सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते 5.1.26.
There, a Brāhmaṇa who bathes is freed from all sins.
सतिलास्तान्सवस्त्रांश्च सफलान्मंडकैः सह
Sesame seeds, garments, and fruits together with cakes,
प्रथमं च ऋग्वेदाय यजुर्वेदाय दक्षिणम्
First, offer to the Ṛgveda and to the Yajurveda as a gift.
वेदानुद्दिश्य चाप्येवं प्रीयतां मे पितामहः
Having invoked the Vedas in this way, may my grandfather be pleased.
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं मंदाकिन्यां तथा भवेत्
Whatever merit exists at all sacred waters, so too is found at Maṇḍākinī.
दानं कोटिगुणं ज्ञेयं मंदाकिन्यां न संशयः
Know that giving in charity at Maṇḍākinī yields a ten-million-fold reward, without doubt.
घृतधेनुं च कार्तिक्यां माघ्यां तिलमयीं तथा
A cow made of ghee in Kārtikā, and one made of sesame in Māgha likewise,
वाचिकं मानसं पापं कर्मजं यच्च दुष्कृ तम् ।। विनश्येत्किल्बिषं सर्वं मंदाकिन्यास्तु दर्शनात्
Sin arising from speech, mind, or action, and whatever is most wicked— all impurity is destroyed merely by seeing Maṇḍākinī.
मंदाकिनीसमं तीर्थं पृथिव्यां नैव दृश्यते
No sacred place on earth is seen to equal Maṇḍākinī.
मंदाकिन्यां तु यः स्नानं कृत्वा श्राद्धं प्रदास्यति
Whoever, after bathing in Maṇḍākinī, offers śrāddha,
पितामहं तु यो भक्त्या नित्यं पश्यति मानवः 5.1.26.
And whoever, with devotion, always beholds the grandfather,
युज्यते नात्र संदेहः सत्यमेतत्तपोधनाः
There is no doubt about this; it is true, O ascetics.
तेनैवोन्मत्तवेषेण ऊर्ध्वशेषो महेश्वरः
With that very mad appearance, Maheśvara remained upright.
ते ब्राह्मणाः शपंति स्म निन्दां कुर्वंति चापरे
Those Brāhmaṇas cursed him, and others spoke reproach.
लोष्ठैर्लगुडकैश्चा न्ये घ्नंति तं बलगर्विताः
Proud of their strength, they struck him with clods and sticks.
पृच्छंति व्रतचर्यां वै केन व्रतं च दर्शितम्
They questioned about the observance of vows, asking by whom the vow was shown.
ब्रह्मणा चेदृशी चर्या विष्णुना वा कृता स्वयम्
Whether such conduct was performed by Brahmā or by Viṣṇu himself.
मा विडम्बय देवेशं वध्यो हि नस्त्वमद्य वै
Do not mock the Lord of gods; today, you are indeed condemned to death by us.
स्मितं कृत्वाऽब्रवीत्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणान्परमेश्वरः
With a smile, the supreme Lord addressed all the Brahmins.
यूयं कारुणिकाः सर्वे मैत्रभावे व्यवस्थिताः
All of you are compassionate, established in the spirit of friendship.
मायया तस्य देवस्य मोहितास्ते द्विजातयः 5.1.26.
Those twice-born were deluded by the illusion of that god.
ताड्यमानस्तु तैर्विप्रैः परं कोपमुपागमत्
Struck by those Brahmins, he became extremely angry.
ऊर्ध्वजूटाः सलगुडाः परदारोपजीविनः
With hair tied up, carrying clubs, living off others' wives,