Kapardishvara: The Doe, the Ghost, and the Hymn of the Far Shore of Brahman

Verse 1 (padma.3.35.1)

नारद उवाच । अथान्यत्तत्र वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्नात्वा तत्र विधानेन तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्नृप ।

nārada uvāca athānyattatra vai liṁgaṁ kapardīśvaramuttamam snātvā tatra vidhānena tarpayitvā pitṝnnṛpa

Narada said: Now there is another excellent linga there, Kapardishvara. Bathing there according to rule, O king, and offering water to the ancestors —

Verse 2 (padma.3.35.2)

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तिं भुक्तिं च विंदति । पिशाचमोचनं नाम तीर्थमन्यत्ततः स्थितम् ।

mucyate sarvapāpebhyo muktiṁ bhuktiṁ ca viṁdati piśācamocanaṁ nāma tīrthamanyattataḥ sthitam

one is freed from every sin and obtains both liberation and worldly enjoyment. Beyond that stands another tirtha, named Pishacha-mochana, 'release of ghosts.'

Verse 3 (padma.3.35.3)

तत्राश्चर्यमयो देवो मुक्तिदः सर्वदोषहः । कश्चिद्दैत्यो जगामेदं शार्दूलो घोररूपधृक् ।

tatrāścaryamayo devo muktidaḥ sarvadoṣahaḥ kaściddaityo jagāmedaṁ śārdūlo ghorarūpadhṛk

There that wondrous god grants liberation and removes every fault. Once a certain demon came there, having taken the terrible form of a tiger —

Verse 4 (padma.3.35.4)

मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । तत्र सा भीतहृदया कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् ।

mṛgīmekāṁ bhakṣayituṁ kapardīśvaramuttamam tatra sā bhītahṛdayā kṛtvā kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam

to devour a doe that had come to the excellent Kapardishvara. There, her heart full of fear, circling the linga again and again in reverence —

Verse 5 (padma.3.35.5)

धावमाना सुसंभ्रांता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता । तां विदार्य नखैस्तीक्ष्णैः शार्दूलः स महाबलः ।

dhāvamānā susaṁbhrāṁtā vyāghrasya vaśamāgatā tāṁ vidārya nakhaistīkṣṇaiḥ śārdūlaḥ sa mahābalaḥ

running about in great confusion, she fell into the tiger's power; that mighty tiger tore her apart with his sharp claws.

Verse 6 (padma.3.35.6)

जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान् । मृतमात्रा च सा बाला कपर्दीशाग्रतो मृगी ।

jagāma cānyaṁ vijanaṁ deśaṁ dṛṣṭvā munīśvarān mṛtamātrā ca sā bālā kapardīśāgrato mṛgī

Seeing the sages, he went off to another deserted region. And that young doe, having died just there before Kapardisha —

Verse 7 (padma.3.35.7)

अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा । त्रिनेत्रा नीलकंठा च शशांकांकित मूर्द्धजा ।

adṛśyata mahājvālā vyomni sūryasamaprabhā trinetrā nīlakaṁṭhā ca śaśāṁkāṁkita mūrddhajā

appeared in the sky as a great blazing light, radiant as the sun — three-eyed, blue-throated, her hair marked with the crescent moon,

Verse 8 (padma.3.35.8)

वृषाधिरूढा पुरुषैस्तादृशैरेव संवृता । पुष्पवृष्टिं विमुंचंति खेचरास्तत्समंततः ।

vṛṣādhirūḍhā puruṣaistādṛśaireva saṁvṛtā puṣpavṛṣṭiṁ vimuṁcaṁti khecarāstatsamaṁtataḥ

mounted upon a bull, surrounded by beings of like form; and sky-dwelling gods rained down flowers all around her.

Verse 9 (padma.3.35.9)

गणेश्वरी स्वयं भूत्वा न दृष्टा तत्क्षणात्ततः । दृष्ट्वा तदाश्चर्यवरं प्रशशंसुः सुरादयः ।

gaṇeśvarī svayaṁ bhūtvā na dṛṣṭā tatkṣaṇāttataḥ dṛṣṭvā tadāścaryavaraṁ praśaśaṁsuḥ surādayaḥ

Having herself become a mistress of Shiva's hosts, she vanished from sight in that very instant; and the gods and others, beholding that great wonder, praised it.

Verse 10 (padma.3.35.10)

तन्महेशस्य वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्मृत्वैवाशेषपापौघात्क्षिप्रमस्य विमुंचति ।

tanmaheśasya vai liṁgaṁ kapardīśvaramuttamam smṛtvaivāśeṣapāpaughātkṣipramasya vimuṁcati

That excellent linga of Mahesha is Kapardishvara; merely by remembering it, one is quickly freed from the entire mass of one's sins.

Verse 11 (padma.3.35.11)

कामक्रोधादयो दोषा वाराणसी निवासिनाम् । विघ्नाः सर्वे विनश्यंति कपर्दीश्वरपूजनात् ।

kāmakrodhādayo doṣā vārāṇasī nivāsinām vighnāḥ sarve vinaśyaṁti kapardīśvarapūjanāt

The faults of desire, anger, and the rest belonging to the residents of Varanasi, and every obstacle, are destroyed by worshipping Kapardishvara.

Verse 12 (padma.3.35.12)

तस्मात्सदैव द्रष्टव्यं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । पूजितव्यं प्रयत्नेन स्तोतव्यं वैदिकैस्तवैः ।

tasmātsadaiva draṣṭavyaṁ kapardīśvaramuttamam pūjitavyaṁ prayatnena stotavyaṁ vaidikaistavaiḥ

Therefore the excellent Kapardishvara should always be beheld, worshipped diligently, and praised with Vedic hymns.

Verse 13 (padma.3.35.13)

ध्यायतां चात्र नियतं योगिनां शांतचेतसाम् । जायते योगसिद्धिः स्यात्षण्मासेन न संशयः ।

dhyāyatāṁ cātra niyataṁ yogināṁ śāṁtacetasām jāyate yogasiddhiḥ syātṣaṇmāsena na saṁśayaḥ

For disciplined yogis of tranquil mind who meditate here, success in yoga arises within six months — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 14 (padma.3.35.14)

ब्रह्महत्यादयः पापा विनश्यंत्यस्य पूजनात् । पिशाचमोचने कुंडे स्नातः स्यात्प्रशमो यतः ।

brahmahatyādayaḥ pāpā vinaśyaṁtyasya pūjanāt piśācamocane kuṁḍe snātaḥ syātpraśamo yataḥ

Sins beginning with the killing of a Brahmin are destroyed by worshipping him; one who bathes in the Pishacha-mochana tank attains peace.

Verse 15 (padma.3.35.15)

तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे पुरा विप्रस्तपस्वी संशितव्रतः । शंकुकर्ण इति ख्यातः पूजयामास शंकरम् ।

tasminkṣetre purā viprastapasvī saṁśitavrataḥ śaṁkukarṇa iti khyātaḥ pūjayāmāsa śaṁkaram

In that field, in ancient times, there lived an ascetic Brahmin of strict vows, known as Shankukarna, who used to worship Shankara.

Verse 16 (padma.3.35.16)

जजाप रुद्रमनिशं प्रणवं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् । पुष्पधूपादिभिस्तोत्रैः नमस्कारैः प्रदक्षिणैः ।

jajāpa rudramaniśaṁ praṇavaṁ brahmarūpiṇam puṣpadhūpādibhistotraiḥ namaskāraiḥ pradakṣiṇaiḥ

He unceasingly recited the Rudra mantra and the syllable Om, the very form of Brahman, worshipping with flowers, incense, hymns, prostrations, and circumambulations.

Verse 17 (padma.3.35.17)

उपासीतात्र योगात्मा कृत्वा दीक्षां तु नैष्ठिकीम् । कदाचिदागतं प्रेतं पश्यति स्म क्षुधान्वितम् ।

upāsītātra yogātmā kṛtvā dīkṣāṁ tu naiṣṭhikīm kadācidāgataṁ pretaṁ paśyati sma kṣudhānvitam

Devoted to yoga, having taken lifelong initiation, he worshipped there. One day he saw a ghost approaching, tormented by hunger,

Verse 18 (padma.3.35.18)

अस्थिचर्म पिनद्धांगं निश्वसंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । तं दृष्ट्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठः कृपया परया युतः ।

asthicarma pinaddhāṁgaṁ niśvasaṁtaṁ muhurmuhuḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā sa muniśreṣṭhaḥ kṛpayā parayā yutaḥ

its limbs covered only by skin and bone, sighing again and again. Seeing him, that best of sages, filled with the deepest compassion,

Verse 19 (padma.3.35.19)

प्रोवाच को भवान्कस्माद्देशाद्देशमिमं श्रितः । तस्मै पिशाचः क्षुधया पीड्यमानोऽब्रवीद्वचः ।

provāca ko bhavānkasmāddeśāddeśamimaṁ śritaḥ tasmai piśācaḥ kṣudhayā pīḍyamāno'bravīdvacaḥ

said: 'Who are you? From what land have you come to this land?' To him the ghost, tormented by hunger, spoke these words:

Verse 20 (padma.3.35.20)

पूर्वजन्मन्यहं विप्रो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । पुत्रपौत्रादिभिर्युक्तः कुटुंबभरणोत्सुकः ।

pūrvajanmanyahaṁ vipro dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ putrapautrādibhiryuktaḥ kuṭuṁbabharaṇotsukaḥ

'In a former birth I was a Brahmin blessed with wealth and grain, with sons and grandsons, eager only for the support of my family.'

Verse 21 (padma.3.35.21)

न पूजिता महादेवा गावोऽप्यतिथयस्तथा । न कदाचित्कृतं पुण्यमल्पं वानल्पमेव च ।

na pūjitā mahādevā gāvo'pyatithayastathā na kadācitkṛtaṁ puṇyamalpaṁ vānalpameva ca

'I never worshipped the great gods, nor cows, nor guests; never at any time did I perform any merit, small or great.'

Verse 22 (padma.3.35.22)

एकदा भगवान्देवो वृषभेश्वरवाहनः । विश्वेश्वरो वाराणस्यां दृष्टः स्पृष्टो नमस्कृतः ।

ekadā bhagavāndevo vṛṣabheśvaravāhanaḥ viśveśvaro vārāṇasyāṁ dṛṣṭaḥ spṛṣṭo namaskṛtaḥ

'Once, in Varanasi, I happened to see, touch, and bow to the lord Vishveshvara, who rides the bull.'

Verse 23 (padma.3.35.23)

तदाचिरेण कालेन पंचत्वमहमागतः । न दृष्टं तन्महाघोरं यमस्य सदनं मुने ।

tadācireṇa kālena paṁcatvamahamāgataḥ na dṛṣṭaṁ tanmahāghoraṁ yamasya sadanaṁ mune

'Soon after that I came to death; and yet, O sage, I did not see that terrible abode of Yama.'

Verse 24 (padma.3.35.24)

पिपासयाधुनाक्रांतो न जानामि हिताहितम् । यदि कंचित्समुद्धर्तुमुपायं पश्यसि प्रभो ।

pipāsayādhunākrāṁto na jānāmi hitāhitam yadi kaṁcitsamuddhartumupāyaṁ paśyasi prabho

'Now I am overcome by thirst and do not know what is beneficial or harmful for me. O lord, if you see any means to deliver me,'

Verse 25 (padma.3.35.25)

कुरुष्व तं नमस्तुभ्यं त्वामहं शरणं गतः । इत्युक्तः शंकुकर्णोऽथ पिशाचमिदमब्रवीत् ।

kuruṣva taṁ namastubhyaṁ tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ ityuktaḥ śaṁkukarṇo'tha piśācamidamabravīt

'then do so — homage to you! I have come to you for refuge.' Thus addressed, Shankukarna then spoke this to the ghost:

Verse 26 (padma.3.35.26)

तादृशो नहि लोकेस्मिन्विद्यते पुण्यकृत्तमः । यत्त्वया भगवान्पूर्वं दृष्टो विश्वेश्वरः शिवः ।

tādṛśo nahi lokesminvidyate puṇyakṛttamaḥ yattvayā bhagavānpūrvaṁ dṛṣṭo viśveśvaraḥ śivaḥ

'There is no doer of merit in this world equal to you, since you have already beheld the blessed Vishveshvara Shiva.'

Verse 27 (padma.3.35.27)

संस्पृष्टो वंदितो भूयः कोऽन्यस्त्वत्सदृशो भुवि । तेन कर्मविपाकेन देशमेतं समागतः ।

saṁspṛṣṭo vaṁdito bhūyaḥ ko'nyastvatsadṛśo bhuvi tena karmavipākena deśametaṁ samāgataḥ

'You have touched and bowed to him besides — who else on earth is your equal? It is through the ripening of that very deed that you have come to this place.'

Verse 28 (padma.3.35.28)

स्नानं कुरुष्व शीघ्रं त्वमस्मिन्कुंडे समाहितः । येनेमां कुत्सितां योनिं क्षिप्रमेव प्रहास्यसि ।

snānaṁ kuruṣva śīghraṁ tvamasminkuṁḍe samāhitaḥ yenemāṁ kutsitāṁ yoniṁ kṣiprameva prahāsyasi

'Now bathe at once, with composed mind, in this pool, by which you will quickly cast off this despised ghostly form.'

Verse 29 (padma.3.35.29)

स एवमुक्तो मुनिना पिशाचो दयालुना देववरं त्रिनेत्रम् । स्मृत्वा कपर्दीश्वरमीशितारं चक्रे समाधाय मनोवगाहम् ।

sa evamukto muninā piśāco dayālunā devavaraṁ trinetram smṛtvā kapardīśvaramīśitāraṁ cakre samādhāya manovagāham

Thus addressed by the compassionate sage, the ghost, remembering the excellent three-eyed god, the ruler Kapardishvara, entered the water with his mind fixed in concentration.

Verse 30 (padma.3.35.30)

तदावगाढो मुनिसन्निधाने ममार दिव्याभरणोपपन्नः । अदृश्यतार्कप्रतिमो विमाने शशांकचिह्नीकृतचारुमौलि ।

tadāvagāḍho munisannidhāne mamāra divyābharaṇopapannaḥ adṛśyatārkapratimo vimāne śaśāṁkacihnīkṛtacārumauli

As soon as he plunged in, he died there in the sage's presence, now adorned with divine ornaments; radiant as the sun, his lovely crest marked with the crescent moon, he was seen in a celestial chariot.

Verse 31 (padma.3.35.31)

विभाति रुद्रैः सहितो दिविष्ठैः समाभृतो योगिरिभरप्रमेयैः । स वालखिल्यादिभिरेष देवो यथोदये भानुरशेषदेवः ।

vibhāti rudraiḥ sahito diviṣṭhaiḥ samābhṛto yogiribharaprameyaiḥ sa vālakhilyādibhireṣa devo yathodaye bhānuraśeṣadevaḥ

He shone forth, accompanied by the celestial Rudras, surrounded by countless great yogis and the Valakhilya sages, like the sun at its rising, complete in every splendor.

Verse 32 (padma.3.35.32)

स्तुवंति सिद्धादि विदेवसंघा नृत्यंति दिव्याप्सरसोऽभिरामाः । मुंचंति वृष्टिं कुसुमांबुमिश्रां गंधर्वविद्याधरकिन्नराद्याः ।

stuvaṁti siddhādi videvasaṁghā nṛtyaṁti divyāpsaraso'bhirāmāḥ muṁcaṁti vṛṣṭiṁ kusumāṁbumiśrāṁ gaṁdharvavidyādharakinnarādyāḥ

Hosts of Siddhas and gods praised him; lovely divine Apsaras danced; and Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, and Kinnaras showered down a rain mingled with flowers and water.

Verse 33 (padma.3.35.33)

संस्तूयमानोऽथ मुनींद्रसंघैरवाप्य बोधं भगवत्प्रसादात् । समाविशन्मंडलमेतदग्र्यं त्रयीमयं यत्र विभाति रुद्रः ।

saṁstūyamāno'tha munīṁdrasaṁghairavāpya bodhaṁ bhagavatprasādāt samāviśanmaṁḍalametadagryaṁ trayīmayaṁ yatra vibhāti rudraḥ

Praised thus by hosts of great sages, and having attained enlightenment by the Lord's grace, he entered that supreme sphere, made of the Vedic triad, where Rudra shines forth.

Verse 34 (padma.3.35.34)

दृष्ट्वा विमुक्तं स पिशाचभूतं मुनिः प्रहृष्टो मनसा महेशम् । विचिंत्य रुद्रं कविमेकमग्निं प्रणम्य तुष्टाव कपर्दिनं तम् ।

dṛṣṭvā vimuktaṁ sa piśācabhūtaṁ muniḥ prahṛṣṭo manasā maheśam viciṁtya rudraṁ kavimekamagniṁ praṇamya tuṣṭāva kapardinaṁ tam

Seeing that ghostly being liberated, the sage's heart filled with joy; contemplating Rudra, the one seer, the fire, he bowed and praised that Kapardin.

Verse 35 (padma.3.35.35)

शंकुकर्ण उवाच । कपर्दिनं त्वां परतः परस्ताद्गोप्तारमेकं पुरुषं पुराणम् । व्रजामि योगेश्वरमीप्सितारमादित्यमग्निं कपिलाधिरूढम् ।

śaṁkukarṇa uvāca kapardinaṁ tvāṁ parataḥ parastādgoptāramekaṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇam vrajāmi yogeśvaramīpsitāramādityamagniṁ kapilādhirūḍham

Shankukarna said: To you, Kapardin, who are beyond even the beyond, the one protector, the primeval Person — I go for refuge, O lord of yoga, the desired one, the sun, the fire, mounted upon the tawny bull.

Verse 36 (padma.3.35.36)

त्वां ब्रह्मसारं हृदि संनिविष्टं हिरण्मयं योगिनमादिमं तम् । व्रजामि रुद्रं शरणं दिविष्ठं महामुनिं ब्रह्ममयं पवित्रम् ।

tvāṁ brahmasāraṁ hṛdi saṁniviṣṭaṁ hiraṇmayaṁ yoginamādimaṁ tam vrajāmi rudraṁ śaraṇaṁ diviṣṭhaṁ mahāmuniṁ brahmamayaṁ pavitram

To you, the essence of Brahman seated within the heart, the golden primal yogi — I go for refuge to you, Rudra, dwelling in heaven, the great sage, made of Brahman, the pure one.

Verse 37 (padma.3.35.37)

सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभियुक्तं सहस्ररूपं तमसः परस्तात् । तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणमामि शंभुं हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिं त्रिनेत्रम् ।

sahasrapādākṣiśirobhiyuktaṁ sahasrarūpaṁ tamasaḥ parastāt taṁ brahmapāraṁ praṇamāmi śaṁbhuṁ hiraṇyagarbhādhipatiṁ trinetram

Endowed with a thousand feet, eyes, and heads, of a thousand forms, beyond the darkness — I bow to that Shambhu who is the far shore of Brahman, lord of Hiranyagarbha, the three-eyed one.

Verse 38 (padma.3.35.38)

यत्र प्रसूतिर्जगतो विनाशो येनावृतं सर्वमिदं शिवेन । तं ब्रह्मपारं भगवंतमीशं प्रणम्य नित्यं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।

yatra prasūtirjagato vināśo yenāvṛtaṁ sarvamidaṁ śivena taṁ brahmapāraṁ bhagavaṁtamīśaṁ praṇamya nityaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye

He from whom comes the world's birth and its destruction, by whom, as Shiva, all this is pervaded — bowing to that Lord, the far shore of Brahman, I take refuge in him forever.

Verse 39 (padma.3.35.39)

अलिंगमालोकविहीनरूपं स्वयंप्रभुं चित्पतिमेकरूपम् । तं ब्रह्मपारं परमेश्वरं त्वां नमस्करिष्ये न यतोऽन्यदस्ति ।

aliṁgamālokavihīnarūpaṁ svayaṁprabhuṁ citpatimekarūpam taṁ brahmapāraṁ parameśvaraṁ tvāṁ namaskariṣye na yato'nyadasti

The one without marks, whose form is beyond ordinary sight, the self-existent lord, the single-formed master of consciousness — to you, the supreme lord, the far shore of Brahman, I shall bow, for there is nothing beyond you.

Verse 40 (padma.3.35.40)

यं योगिनस्त्यक्तसबीजयोगा लब्ध्वा समाधिं परमात्मभूताः । पश्यंति देवं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यं तं ब्रह्मपारं परमस्वरूपम् ।

yaṁ yoginastyaktasabījayogā labdhvā samādhiṁ paramātmabhūtāḥ paśyaṁti devaṁ praṇato'smi nityaṁ taṁ brahmapāraṁ paramasvarūpam

Whom the yogis, having abandoned yoga-with-seed, attaining samadhi, having become one with the supreme self, behold as god — to that far shore of Brahman, of supreme nature, I am ever bowed.

Verse 41 (padma.3.35.41)

न यत्र नामादिविशेष कॢप्तिर्न संदृशे तिष्ठति यत्स्वरूपम् । तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यं स्वयंभुवं त्वां शरणं प्रपद्ये ।

na yatra nāmādiviśeṣa kḷptirna saṁdṛśe tiṣṭhati yatsvarūpam taṁ brahmapāraṁ praṇato'smi nityaṁ svayaṁbhuvaṁ tvāṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye

Where there is no assigning of a particular name and the like, whose nature does not stand within ordinary sight — to that far shore of Brahman I am ever bowed; to you, the self-existent, I take refuge.

Verse 42 (padma.3.35.42)

यद्वेदवादाभिरता विदेहं सब्रह्मविज्ञानमभेदमेकम् । पश्यंत्यनेकं भवतः स्वरूपं तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यम् ।

yadvedavādābhiratā videhaṁ sabrahmavijñānamabhedamekam paśyaṁtyanekaṁ bhavataḥ svarūpaṁ taṁ brahmapāraṁ praṇato'smi nityam

Whom those devoted to the words of the Veda, bodiless, endowed with knowledge of Brahman, undivided and one, behold as manifold — such is your nature; to that far shore of Brahman I am ever bowed.

Verse 43 (padma.3.35.43)

यतः प्रधानं पुरुषः पुराणो बिभर्ति तेजः प्रणमंति देवाः । नमामि तं ज्योतिषि सन्निविष्टं कालं बृहंतं भवतः स्वरूपम् ।

yataḥ pradhānaṁ puruṣaḥ purāṇo bibharti tejaḥ praṇamaṁti devāḥ namāmi taṁ jyotiṣi sanniviṣṭaṁ kālaṁ bṛhaṁtaṁ bhavataḥ svarūpam

He from whom the primeval Person bears forth Prakriti and splendor, to whom the gods bow — I bow to him seated in light, vast Time itself, your very own nature.

Verse 44 (padma.3.35.44)

व्रजामि नित्यं शरणं गुहेशं स्थाणुं प्रपद्ये गिरिशं पुराणम् । शिवं प्रपद्ये हरिमिंदुमौलिं पिनाकिनं त्वां शरणं व्रजामि ।

vrajāmi nityaṁ śaraṇaṁ guheśaṁ sthāṇuṁ prapadye giriśaṁ purāṇam śivaṁ prapadye harimiṁdumauliṁ pinākinaṁ tvāṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajāmi

I go forever for refuge to the lord of the heart's cave; I take refuge in the unmoving, ancient Girisha. I take refuge in Shiva, in Hari, in the moon-crested one; to you, wielder of the Pinaka, I go for refuge.

Verse 45 (padma.3.35.45)

स्तुत्वैवं शंकुकर्णोऽपि भगवंतं कपर्दिनम् । पपात दंडवद्भूमौ प्रोच्चरन्प्रणवं परम् ।

stutvaivaṁ śaṁkukarṇo'pi bhagavaṁtaṁ kapardinam papāta daṁḍavadbhūmau proccaranpraṇavaṁ param

Having thus praised the blessed Kapardin, Shankukarna fell prostrate like a staff upon the ground, loudly uttering the supreme syllable Om.

Verse 46 (padma.3.35.46)

तत्क्षणात्परमं लिंगं प्रादुर्भूतं शिवात्मकम् । ज्ञानमानंदमत्यंतं कोटिज्वालाग्निसन्निभम् ।

tatkṣaṇātparamaṁ liṁgaṁ prādurbhūtaṁ śivātmakam jñānamānaṁdamatyaṁtaṁ koṭijvālāgnisannibham

At that very moment the supreme linga, the very self of Shiva, appeared there — pure knowledge and boundless bliss, resembling a fire of ten million flames.

Verse 47 (padma.3.35.47)

शंकुकर्णोऽथ मुक्तात्मा तदात्मा सर्वगोऽमलः । निलिल्ये विमले लिंगे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ।

śaṁkukarṇo'tha muktātmā tadātmā sarvago'malaḥ nililye vimale liṁge tadadbhutamivābhavat

Then Shankukarna, his self liberated, one with That, all-pervading and stainless, merged into that pure linga — it became a thing of wonder.

Verse 48 (padma.3.35.48)

एतद्रहस्यमाख्यातं माहात्म्यं ते कपर्द्दिनः । न कश्चिद्वेत्ति तमसा विद्वानप्यत्र मुह्यति ।

etadrahasyamākhyātaṁ māhātmyaṁ te kaparddinaḥ na kaścidvetti tamasā vidvānapyatra muhyati

This secret greatness of Kapardin has been told to you; no one truly knows it — even the learned are bewildered here by ignorance.

Verse 49 (padma.3.35.49)

य इमां शृणुयान्नित्यं कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । त्यक्तपापविशुद्धात्मा रुद्रसामीप्यमाप्नुयात् ।

ya imāṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ kathāṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm tyaktapāpaviśuddhātmā rudrasāmīpyamāpnuyāt

Whoever constantly listens to this story that destroys sin, having cast off sin, his soul purified, attains nearness to Rudra.

Verse 50 (padma.3.35.50)

पठेच्च सततं शुद्धो ब्रह्मपारं महास्तवम् । प्रातर्मध्याह्नसमये स योगं प्राप्नुयात्परम् ।

paṭhecca satataṁ śuddho brahmapāraṁ mahāstavam prātarmadhyāhnasamaye sa yogaṁ prāpnuyātparam

And whoever, pure, constantly recites this great hymn 'Brahmapara' in the morning and at midday attains the supreme yoga.