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.
कृतपुण्या नरा देवि ते यांति परमं पदम्
O Devi, those men who have earned merit attain the supreme state.
तत्पापं विलयं याति लिंगस्यास्य च दर्शनात् तत्क्षपयति देवोऽयं चतुर्द्दश्यां समर्चितः
The sin is destroyed by the sight of this linga; the deity removes it when worshipped on the fourteenth day.
प्रसंगादपि ये पूजां करिष्यंति वरानने ऐश्वर्यधर्ममतुलं दीर्घमायुररोगताम्
O beautiful-faced one, even those who perform worship incidentally will obtain incomparable prosperity, virtue, long life, and freedom from disease.
निःसपत्नत्वमतुलं यच्चान्यत्तदवाप्नुयात्
They will also attain unrivaled freedom from rivals and whatever else is desired.
विपाप्मानो भविष्यंति गणेशाश्च मम प्रिये ते पश्यंति तनुं त्यक्त्वा मदीयं भवनं प्रियम्
O beloved, those Gaṇeśas devoted to me will become free from sin; after leaving their bodies, they see my cherished abode.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O goddess, I have thus described to you this power that destroys sin.
सर्वपापहरं देवि स्वर्गमोक्षफलप्रदम्
O goddess, it removes all sins and bestows the fruits of heaven and liberation.
यदा देवि समायाताः कैलासे पर्वतोत्तमे
O goddess, when you arrived on the supreme mountain Kailāsa,
निमंत्रिता वयं यज्ञे सकांताः सपरिग्रहाः
We, along with our beloveds and retinues, were invited to the sacrifice.
कच्चित्स्मृता विशालाक्षि किं वा तातस्य विस्मृतिः
O wide-eyed one, do you remember, or has your father forgotten?