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.
एवं शतसहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च
Thus, hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, and crores occurred.
अथाहुर्ज्ञानिनः सर्वे नेदमन्यस्य चेष्टितम्
Then all the wise ones said: 'This is not the act of anyone else.'
ततोऽहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैः स्तुतो विप्रैः पृथक्पृथक्
Afterwards, I was praised by the Brahmins with various hymns, each separately.
अहं तुष्टस्तदा देवि द्विजानामनुकंपया
Then, O Devi, I was pleased out of compassion for the Brahmins.
तदा ते ब्राह्मणाः प्रोचुर्यदज्ञानाद्वधस्तव
Then those Brahmins spoke, saying that your killing was due to ignorance.
ब्रह्महत्याविनाशाय प्रसादं कुरु नः प्रभो
O Lord, grant us your favor for the destruction of the sin of killing a Brahmin.
द्विजानां च तदा तेषामग्रे कथितवानिदम् 5.2.8.
At that time, in the presence of those twice-born, you spoke these words.
अनादिलिंगं तत्रासीच्छन्नं कालविपर्यये
There was a primordial linga, concealed by the reversal of time.
कृता मयापि विप्रेंद्रा ब्रह्महत्या स्वयं पुरा
O best of Brahmins, I too once committed the sin of killing a Brahmin myself.
ब्रह्महत्या ततो जाता ममातीव सुदुःसहा
From that, the sin of Brahmin-killing arose in me, exceedingly unbearable.
दह्यमानस्ततश्चाहं व्याप्तो वै ब्रह्महत्यया
Burning, I was then enveloped by the sin of Brahmin-killing.
गतः सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु नैव मुक्तस्तु हत्यया
I went to all the sacred places, but was not freed from the sin.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे दैवी वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
Meanwhile, a divine voice spoke, bodiless.
महाकालवनं पुण्यं त्वया नाथ विनिर्मितम् न जानासि कथं क्षेत्रं महापातकनाशनम्
O Lord, you have created the holy Mahakalavana; you do not know how this field destroys great sins.
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महल्लिंगं गजरूपस्य संनिधौ
In that field, the great linga is present near the form of the elephant.
ततोऽहमागतस्तूर्ण वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तदोत्तमम्
Then I came quickly, having heard that excellent statement.
मम हस्तात्तदा विप्राः कपालमपतद्भुवि 5.2.8.
At that time, O Brahmins, the skull fell from my hand to the ground.
पश्यंतु विप्रास्तं देवं कपालेश्वरसंज्ञ कम्
Let the Brahmins behold that deity, known as Kapaleshvara.
लिंगं दृष्टं तदा तैस्तु कपालैर्बहुभिवृतम्
At that time, they saw the linga, surrounded by many skulls.
अतोऽसौ भुवि विख्यातः कपालेश्वरसंज्ञकः
Therefore, it is renowned on earth as Kapaleshvara.