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?
तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा अवमा नात्तदा त्वया
Hearing those words of theirs, you did not feel slighted at that time.
अथ ताः शोकसंतप्ता गता यत्र प्रजापतिः
Then, distressed by grief, they went to where the Lord of creatures was.
तच्छुत्वा दारुणं वाक्यं दक्षो नोवाच किंचन
Hearing those harsh words, Dakṣa did not say anything.
मया दृष्टा यदा देवि भूमौ पंचत्वमागता
O goddess, when I saw you lying on the ground, having met your end—
ते गत्वाथ गणा रौद्राः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः मुमुचुः शरवर्षाणि कुर्वंतो भैरवान्रवान्
Then the fierce Gaṇas, by the hundreds and thousands, went forth, releasing showers of arrows and making terrifying roars.
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे वसवः सह भास्करैः 5.2.9.१
Then all the hosts of gods, along with the Vasus and the Sun gods, [assembled].
युद्धाय च विनिष्क्रांता मुमुचुः सायकान्सितान् मुमुचुः शरवर्षाणि वारिधारा यथा घनाः
They went out to battle, releasing sharp arrows, pouring down showers of arrows like clouds release torrents of rain.
तेषां मध्ये गणो नाम वीरभद्रो महाबलः
Among them was a Gaṇa named Vīrabhadra, of great strength.
स तु तेन प्रहारेण विसंज्ञो निषसाद ह
Struck by that blow, he lost consciousness and sat down.
स हतः सहसा तेन गजेंद्रो भेरवान्रवान्
Suddenly struck down by him, the lord of elephants let out terrifying roars.