विमानवरमास्थाय कामगं रत्नभूषितम्
Seated in a splendid celestial chariot, adorned with desired jewels,
किं दानैर्विविधैर्दत्तैः किं यज्ञैर्विविधैः कृतैः
What is the use of various gifts given, what is the use of many sacrifices performed,
यंयं काममभिध्याय पूजयिष्यंति मानवाः
Whatever desire a person contemplates while worshipping,
त्रिदशैश्च पुनः प्रोक्तं दृष्ट्वा मल्लिंगमुत्तमम्
It has also been declared by the gods, upon seeing the supreme liṅga,
पूजयिष्यंति ये धन्या देवं त्रिविष्टपेश्वरम्
Blessed are those who will worship the Lord of the triple world,
इत्युक्त्वा पूजयामास भूयो लिंगं त्रिविष्टपम्
Having spoken thus, he again worshipped the liṅga of the triple world.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, this power of his, which destroys sin, has been told to you.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या प्रणश्यति
By merely seeing him, the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is destroyed.
पुरा वैवस्वते कल्पे त्रेताकाले समागते
Long ago, in the age of Vaivasvata, when the Tretā era arrived,
उपविष्टेषु विप्रेषु हूयमाने हुताशने
When the Brāhmaṇas were seated and the sacred fire was being offered,
जीर्णकंथावृतो देवि मुंडः खट्वांगधारकः कपालं च करे कृत्वा कपालकृतभूषणः
Covered with old rags, O Goddess, bald, bearing a skull-topped staff, holding a skull in his hand, adorned with ornaments made of skulls,
ब्राह्मणाश्च ततः क्रुद्धा दृष्ट्वा मां जाल्मरूपिणम्
Then the Brāhmaṇas, angered upon seeing me in the form of a beggar,
असकृत्पापपापेति गच्छगच्छ विडंबिताः
Repeatedly mocked, saying, 'Go away, sinner, go away!'
अकपालानि शौचानि इति वेदेषु गीयते
It is sung in the Vedas that those without skulls are pure.
मया प्रोक्तास्तु ते विप्राः श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तमाः
I spoke to those Brāhmaṇas: 'Listen, O best of twice-born!'
कर्त्तव्या च दया सद्भिः सर्वदा सर्वदेहिनाम्
Compassion must always be shown by the virtuous to all embodied beings.
अहं कापालिको विप्रो भस्मभूषितविग्रहः 5.2.8.
I am a Brahmin ascetic, adorned with ashes upon my body.
आराधयामि सततं महादेवं जगत्पतिम्
I constantly worship Mahadeva, the Lord of the universe.
अघघ्नं विश्रुतं लोके प्रारब्धं हि मया द्विजाः
I have undertaken the renowned ritual to destroy sin, O twice-born ones.
मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा तैः प्रोक्तं द्विजसत्तमैः
After hearing my words, those eminent Brahmins declared thus.
कपालैर्भूषितो निंद्यो विशेषेण तु विप्रहः
A Brahmin adorned with skulls is especially condemned.
यस्मिन्यज्ञे समायाता आदित्या वसवस्तथा
In that sacrifice, the Adityas and Vasus assembled.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुः सहस्राक्षो वरुणो वायुरेव च
Brahma, Vishnu, the thousand-eyed Indra, Varuna, and Vayu also attended.
सुपर्णा गिरयो नागाः सर्वे चाकारिताः क्रतौ
Garuda, the mountains, the serpents—all were summoned to the ritual.
ब्रह्मर्षयो महाभागास्तथा देवर्षयोऽमलाः
The great Brahmin sages and the pure divine sages were also present.
अपवित्रमिति ज्ञात्वा कथं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Knowing it to be impure, how can you speak thus?
इत्युक्तोऽहं यदा विप्रैर्मया प्रोक्तं वचस्तदा 5.2.8.
When I was addressed in this way by the Brahmins, I then spoke these words.
इत्युक्ते वचने देवि ताडितोऽहं भृशं तदा
When these words were spoken, O Devi, I was harshly struck at that moment.
अथ प्रहस्य तत्क्षिप्त्वा तां वेदिं दर्भसंस्तृताम्
Then, laughing, I cast aside that altar covered with darbha grass.
मयि नष्टे कपालं तत्क्षिप्तं मंडपबाह्यतः
When I was gone, the skull was thrown outside the pavilion.