विश्रुता वरणेत्वयेव सर्वपापहरा शुभा
Varuṇā is famed here as the remover of all sins, auspicious and pure.
ते उभे सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे लोकपूज्ये बभूवतुः
Both these rivers, the greatest among streams, became honored by the world.
न तादृशो ऽस्ति गगने न भूभ्यां न रसातले
There is nothing like them in the sky, on earth, or in the netherworld.
यस्यां हि भोगिनो ऽपीश प्रयान्ति भवतो लयम्
Even those who indulge in pleasures, O Lord, attain dissolution there.
शुचिस्वरत्वं गुरवो निशम्य हास्यादशासन्त मुहुर्मुहुस्तान्
Hearing of its pure musical quality, the teachers repeatedly laughed at them.
ययौ शशी विस्मयमेव यस्यां किंस्वित् प्रयाता स्थालपद्मिनीयम्
The moon went forth in wonder, where, indeed, the pond-lotus had departed.
दिवापि सूर्यं पवनाप्लुताभिर्दीर्घाभिरेवं सुपताकिकाभिः
Even by day, the sun is veiled by long, splendid banners fluttering in the wind.
आलेश्ययोषिद्विमलाननाब्जेष्वीयुर्भ्रमान्नैव च पुष्पकान्तरम्
Embracing the spotless faces of women, bees do not wander to other flowers.
यस्यां जसक्रीडनसंगतासु न स्त्रीषु संभो गृहदीर्घोकासु
Where, among women gathered for play, there is no union in the long-abiding houses.
न चाबलानां तरसा पराक्रमं करोति यस्यां सुरतं हि मक्त्वा
Nor does the passion of young girls exert force, where intercourse is indeed forsaken.
यस्यां मानमदौ पुंसां करिणां यौवनागमे
Where pride and intoxication arise in men and elephants with the coming of youth.
तारागणे ऽकुलीनत्वं गद्ये वृत्तच्युतिर्विभो
Among the stars, there is lack of nobility; in prose, the loss of meter, O Lord.
चन्द्रभूषितदेहाश्च यस्यां त्वमिव शङ्कर
Those whose bodies are adorned with the moon, like you, O Śaṅkara.
वसते भवांल्लोलः सर्वपापहरो रविः
There dwells the restless Sun, remover of all sins.
तत्र गत्वा सुरश्रेष्ठ पापमोक्षमवाप्स्यसि
Going there, O best of gods, you will attain liberation from sin.
जगाम वेगाद् गरुडो यथासौ वाराणसीं पापविमोचनाय
Garuda swiftly went, as he did, to Vārāṇasī for the removal of sin.
स्नात्वा च तीर्थेषु विमुक्तपापः स केशवं द्रष्टुमुपाजगाम
Having bathed at the sacred fords, freed from sin, he went to see Keśava.
तवत्प्रसादाद् हृषीकेश ब्रह्महत्या क्षयं गता
By your grace, O Hṛṣīkeśa, the sin of killing a Brahmin has been destroyed.
कारणं वेद्मि न च तदेतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि
I know the reason, but it is not proper for me to speak of it.
विद्यते कारणं रुद्र तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते
There is a reason, O Rudra; I will tell you everything.
एष तीर्थवरः पुण्यो देवगन्धर्वपूजितः
This is a most holy ford, honored by gods and gandharvas.
स्नातमात्रस्य चाद्यैव कपालं परिमोक्ष्यति
For one who bathes here today, the skull will immediately be released.
कपालमोचनेत्येवं तीर्थं चेदं भविष्यति
Therefore, this ford will be known as Kapālamocana, the place where the skull is released.
कपालमोचने सस्नौ वेदोस्तविधिना मुने
He bathed at Kapālamocana according to Vedic rite, O sage.
नाम्ना बभूवाथ कपालमोचनं तत्तीर्थवर्यं भगवत्प्रसादात्
By the grace of the Blessed Lord, that excellent ford became known by the name Kapālamocana.
अनेन कारणेनासौ दक्षेण न निमन्त्रितः
For this reason, he was not invited by Dakṣa.
यज्ञे चार्हापि दुहिता दक्षेण न निमन्त्रिता
Nor was his worthy daughter invited by Dakṣa to the sacrifice.
जया जगाम शैलेन्द्रं मन्दरं चारुकन्दरम्
Jayā went to the lord of mountains, to Mandara with its lovely caves.
किमर्थं विजया नागाज्जयन्ती चापराजिता
Why did Vijayā not go, and Jayantī and Aparājitā?
गता निमन्त्रिताः सर्वा मखे मातामहस्य ताः
All those who were invited went to their maternal grandfather’s sacrifice.