एवं किल पुराणेषु सर्वागमभिदादिषु
Thus indeed, in the Purāṇas and in all authoritative scriptures,
अश्वमेधेन यज्ञेन ब्रह्महत्या विनश्यति
It is said that the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is destroyed by the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
मया पुनर्नृशंसेन बहवः प्राणिनो हताः
Yet by me, in cruelty, many living beings have been slain.
स्त्रियो वृद्धाश्च बालाश्च माता चैव विशेषतः
Women, the elderly, children, and especially my own mother.
चिंतयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु गतो रैवतकं गिरिम्
After pondering for a moment, he went to Mount Raivataka.
तथापि न गता हत्या ह्यनेकप्राणिसंभवा
Still, the sin of killing, arising from the destruction of many lives, did not depart.
सह्ये हिमालये रम्ये पुण्ये बदरिकाश्रमे
In the Sahya, in the beautiful Himalayas, and in the sacred hermitage at Badarikāśrama,
यमुनां चंद्रभागां च गंगां त्रिपथगामिनीम्
To the Yamunā, the Candrabhāgā, and the Gaṅgā, the river of three paths,
विशालां कपिलां दुर्गां गंभीरां गोमतीं शिवाम्
To the Viśālā, the Kapilā, the Durgā, the deep and auspicious Gomatī,
गयां चैव कुरुक्षेत्रं नैमिषं पुष्करं तथा
To Gayā, Kurukṣetra, Naimiṣa, and also Puṣkara,
कृतयात्रोऽपि दुःखार्त्तश्चिंतयामास भार्गवः
Even after completing these pilgrimages, Bhārgava, tormented by sorrow, reflected.
न गता ब्रह्महत्या मे कृतो धर्मो निरर्थकः यदि स्यात्सत्यमेतच्च नष्टं जातं कथं मम ।। 5.2.29.
The sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa has not left me; my righteous acts are fruitless. If this is true, how has my destruction come about?
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु नारदो मुनिपुंगवः
At just that moment, Nārada, the foremost of sages,
विषण्णवदनो दीनश्चिंतयानः पुनःपुनः
With a face cast down, dejected, and lost in anxious thought again and again,
भोभो नारद देवर्षे शृणु मे परमं वचः
O Nārada, divine sage, hear my supreme words.
पितुः पराभवाद्भूमौ भृमिपाला मया हताः
Because of my father's defeat, I have slain the rulers of the earth.
निरंतरा हता लोका विशोकेनादयालुना
Unceasingly, I have destroyed the worlds, being merciless and without sorrow.
यज्ञः कृतोऽश्वमेधश्च दत्तं दानमनेकधा
Sacrifices have been performed, the Aśvamedha completed, and many gifts given.
पर्वतेषु तपस्तप्तं हुतं जप्तं निरंतरम्
Austerities performed on mountains, offerings made, and recitations done without interruption—
परं नैव गता हत्या तस्मात्सर्वं निरर्थकम्
—do not lead to the highest state if killing has occurred; therefore, all such acts are rendered fruitless.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नारदो भगवानृषिः भोभो राम किमात्मानं न स्मरस्यधुना हरिम्
Hearing these words, the venerable sage Nārada said: 'O Rāma, why do you not now remember Hari, your true self?'
त्वयैव कथितं पूर्वं ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम् तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महालिंगं ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम् ।। 5.2.29.
You yourself have previously spoken of the destruction of brahmahatyā; in that sacred place, the great liṅga destroys the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.
जटेश्वरो महाभाग विद्यते सर्वसिद्धिदम् नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स्मृत्वा क्षेत्रमनुत्तमम्
There abides Jaṭeśvara, the greatly fortunate one, bestower of all accomplishments; hearing Nārada’s words and recalling that supreme field—
जगाम त्वरितं देवि महाकालवने ततः लिंगमध्यादहं देवि प्रसन्नो निर्गतस्तदा
—he swiftly went, O goddess, to the great Kālavaṇa; from the midst of the liṅga, O goddess, I graciously emerged at that time.
जामदग्न्यो मया प्रोक्तः कांतकामं ददाम्यहम्
To Jāmadagnya I spoke: 'I grant you your desired boon.'
त्वत्पादपंकजे भूयाद्भक्तिर्मे विपुला सदा
May my devotion to your lotus feet, O goddess, ever be abundant.
इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा तेन यथा तुष्टेन पार्वति
Thus was I addressed by him then, as he was pleased, O Pārvatī.
अद्यप्रभृति ते नाम्ना देवः ख्यातो भविष्यति
From this day forth, the god will be renowned by your name.
भक्त्या ये पूजयिष्यंति देवं रामेश्वरं परम् ।। आजन्मप्रभवं पापं तेषां न३यति तत्क्षणात्
Those who worship with devotion the supreme god Rāmeśvara, for them, all sins from birth are destroyed that very instant.
स एव पुण्यवान्पूज्य इह लोके परत्र च
He alone is virtuous and worthy of worship, both in this world and the next.