The Fixing of the Skull

Verse 1 (skanda.8.7.1)

वायुरुवाच। ब्रह्मलोकं समासाद्य भगवान् सर्वलोकपः । भक्ष भैक्षमिति प्रोच्य द्वारे समवतिष्ठत

vāyuruvāca| brahmalokaṁ samāsādya bhagavān sarvalokapaḥ | bhakṣa bhaikṣamiti procya dvāre samavatiṣṭhata

Vayu said: Having reached Brahmaloka, the blessed lord, protector of all the worlds, stood at the door, crying, 'Alms! Give alms!'

Verse 2 (skanda.8.7.2)

तं दृष्ट्वा विकृतं ब्रह्मा कपालकरभूषणम् । ज्ञात्वा योगेन महता तुष्टाव भुवनेश्वरम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā vikṛtaṁ brahmā kapālakarabhūṣaṇam | jñātvā yogena mahatā tuṣṭāva bhuvaneśvaram

Seeing him, deformed in form, the skull adorning his hand, Brahma recognized him through great yogic insight and praised the lord of the universe.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.7.3)

तस्य तुष्टस्तदा देवो वरदोस्मीत्यभाषत । वृणीष्व वरमव्यग्रो यत्ते मनसि वर्तते

tasya tuṣṭastadā devo varadosmītyabhāṣata | vṛṇīṣva varamavyagro yatte manasi vartate

Then the god, pleased, said, 'I am the giver of boons; without hesitation, ask for whatever boon is in your mind.'

Verse 4 (skanda.8.7.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच। इच्छामि देवदेवेश त्वया चिह्नमिदं कृतम् । येन चिह्ने न लोकोयं चिह्नितः स्याज्जगत्पते

brahmovāca| icchāmi devadeveśa tvayā cihnamidaṁ kṛtam | yena cihne na lokoyaṁ cihnitaḥ syājjagatpate

Brahma said: O lord of gods, I desire that you create this mark, so that by this sign, O lord of the universe, this whole world may be marked.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.7.5)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवान् वदतां वरः । सर्वं प्रतिज्ञाय तदा ब्रह्मन्नोमिति व्याजहार सः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhagavān vadatāṁ varaḥ | sarvaṁ pratijñāya tadā brahmannomiti vyājahāra saḥ

Having heard his words, the blessed lord, best among speakers, granted it all and then uttered, 'Om,' O Brahman.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.7.6)

तस्यैवं ध्यानमात्रेण वागियं दिव्यरूपिणी । निःसृता वदनाद्देवी प्रह्वा समवतिष्ठत

tasyaivaṁ dhyānamātreṇa vāgiyaṁ divyarūpiṇī | niḥsṛtā vadanāddevī prahvā samavatiṣṭhata

From that mere act of concentration of his, this divinely-formed speech — the goddess — issued forth from his mouth and stood there in humility.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.7.7)

तामुवाच ततो देवः वाचा संजीवयन्निव । यस्मात् त्वमक्षरो भूत्वा मम वाचो विनिःसृता

tāmuvāca tato devaḥ vācā saṁjīvayanniva | yasmāt tvamakṣaro bhūtvā mama vāco viniḥsṛtā

Then the god addressed her, as if reviving her with his own speech: 'Since you have issued from my speech, becoming the imperishable syllable itself...'

Verse 8 (skanda.8.7.8)

सर्वविद्याधिदेवी त्वं तस्माद्देवि भविष्यसि । यस्माद् ब्रह्मरसं वेदं मुखं मम समाश्रिता

sarvavidyādhidevī tvaṁ tasmāddevi bhaviṣyasi | yasmād brahmarasaṁ vedaṁ mukhaṁ mama samāśritā

'...therefore, O goddess, you shall become the presiding deity of all learning, since, as the very essence of Brahman, the Veda, you have taken refuge in my mouth.'

Verse 9 (skanda.8.7.9)

तस्मात् सरस्वतीत्येवं लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यसि । इमं लोकं रसाम्भोभिर्भावयित्वा च सुप्रभे

tasmāt sarasvatītyevaṁ loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyasi | imaṁ lokaṁ rasāmbhobhirbhāvayitvā ca suprabhe

'Therefore you shall become renowned in the world as Sarasvati; and, O radiant one, having nourished this world with your flowing waters...'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.7.10)

सर्वलोकान् तारयिता पुनस्त्वं नात्र संशयः । यज्ञभागं च ते देवा दास्यंति सपितामहाः

sarvalokān tārayitā punastvaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ | yajñabhāgaṁ ca te devā dāsyaṁti sapitāmahāḥ

'...you shall again be the one who carries all the worlds across — of this there is no doubt. And the gods, together with the Grandsire, shall grant you a share in sacrifices.'

Verse 11 (skanda.8.7.11)

इत्येव ब्रह्मणश्चेदं कपालममितौजसः । इमं लोकमनुप्राप्य देशे प्रेष्ठेवतिष्ठत

ityeva brahmaṇaścedaṁ kapālamamitaujasaḥ | imaṁ lokamanuprāpya deśe preṣṭhevatiṣṭhata

Thus this skull of the immeasurably powerful Brahma, having come into this world, came to rest in a most cherished place.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.7.12)

तत्र तच्च महद्दिव्यं कपालं देवताधिपः । स्थापयामास दीप्तार्चिः कुशानामग्रतः प्रभुः

tatra tacca mahaddivyaṁ kapālaṁ devatādhipaḥ | sthāpayāmāsa dīptārciḥ kuśānāmagrataḥ prabhuḥ

There the lord of the gods, blazing with light, set that great and divine skull down before the tips of kusha grass.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.7.13)

स्थापितं तदथो दृष्ट्वा गणाः सर्वे महात्मनः । व्यनदन् सुमहानादं नादयन्तो दिशो दश

sthāpitaṁ tadatho dṛṣṭvā gaṇāḥ sarve mahātmanaḥ | vyanadan sumahānādaṁ nādayanto diśo daśa

Seeing it thus set in place, all the gaṇas of the great lord raised a tremendous roar, making the ten directions resound.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.7.14)

सरित्प्रख्ये विदीर्यते । तेन शब्देन घोरेण असुरो देवकण्टकः

saritprakhye vidīryate | tena śabdena ghoreṇa asuro devakaṇṭakaḥ

The sound, resounding like a river, spread through the air; and by that terrible noise, the demon who was a thorn to the gods was startled.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.7.15)

हालाहल इति ख्यातस्तं देशं सोभ्यगच्छत । अमृष्यमाणः क्रोधान्धो दुरात्मा यज्ञशासकः

hālāhala iti khyātastaṁ deśaṁ sobhyagacchata | amṛṣyamāṇaḥ krodhāndho durātmā yajñaśāsakaḥ

The one known as Halahala — evil-minded, blind with rage, unable to bear it, a disruptor of sacrifices — made his way to that place.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.7.16)

ब्रह्मदत्तवरश्चैव अवध्यः सर्वजन्तुभिः । महिषश्छन्नरूपाणामसुराणां शतैर्वृतः

brahmadattavaraścaiva avadhyaḥ sarvajantubhiḥ | mahiṣaśchannarūpāṇāmasurāṇāṁ śatairvṛtaḥ

He, having received a boon from Brahma, invulnerable to all creatures, in the form of a buffalo, was surrounded by hundreds of asuras in disguised shapes.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.7.17)

तमापतन्तं सक्रोधं महिषं देवकण्टकम् । संप्रेक्ष्याह गणाध्यक्षो गणान्सर्वान् पिनाकिनः

tamāpatantaṁ sakrodhaṁ mahiṣaṁ devakaṇṭakam | saṁprekṣyāha gaṇādhyakṣo gaṇānsarvān pinākinaḥ

Seeing that furious buffalo-demon, a thorn to the gods, charging forward, the chief of the gaṇas spoke to all of Pinakin's (Shiva's) hosts.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.7.18)

यो ह्ययं गणपा दुष्टस्त्रैलोक्ये सुरकण्टकः । आयाति रुषितो युष्मान् तस्मादेनं निहिंसत

yo hyayaṁ gaṇapā duṣṭastrailokye surakaṇṭakaḥ | āyāti ruṣito yuṣmān tasmādenaṁ nihiṁsata

'This wicked one, O gaṇa-lords, a thorn to the gods throughout the three worlds, comes at you in fury; therefore strike him down.'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.7.19)

ततस्ते गणपाः सर्वे समायातं सुरद्विषम् । भित्त्वा शूलेन संक्रुद्धा विगतासुं प्रचक्रिरे

tataste gaṇapāḥ sarve samāyātaṁ suradviṣam | bhittvā śūlena saṁkruddhā vigatāsuṁ pracakrire

Then all those gaṇa-lords, in fury, pierced the advancing enemy of the gods with a trident and left him lifeless.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.7.20)

हते तस्मिन् तदा देवो दिशः सर्वानवैक्षत । ताभ्यः पिशाचवृत्तास्याः पिशाच्यश्च महाबलाः

hate tasmin tadā devo diśaḥ sarvānavaikṣata | tābhyaḥ piśācavṛttāsyāḥ piśācyaśca mahābalāḥ

When he was slain, the god then looked out in every direction; from those directions came mighty piśāca-women, piśāca-like in form and countenance.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.7.21)

अभ्यगच्छत तं देवं ताभ्यस्तं विनिवेदयन् । स ताभिरुपयुक्तश्च सर्वशः

abhyagacchata taṁ devaṁ tābhyastaṁ vinivedayan | sa tābhirupayuktaśca sarvaśaḥ

They came to that god, and he made an offering of it to them; and it was consumed by them entirely.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.7.22)

तमेवाप्यथवावासं देवादिष्टं प्रपेदिरे । भक्षयन्ति स्म तं नित्यं सिद्धासिद्धा यतस्ततः

tamevāpyathavāvāsaṁ devādiṣṭaṁ prapedire | bhakṣayanti sma taṁ nityaṁ siddhāsiddhā yatastataḥ

They took that very place, appointed by the god, as their abode; there siddhas and non-siddhas alike feed upon him continually.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.7.23)

कपालमातरः प्रोक्तास्तस्माद्देवेन धीमता । कपालं स्थापितं यस्मात्तस्मिन्देशे पिनाकिना

kapālamātaraḥ proktāstasmāddevena dhīmatā | kapālaṁ sthāpitaṁ yasmāttasmindeśe pinākinā

Therefore they are called 'Kapala-mothers' by that wise god, since it was in that very place that Pinakin (Shiva) established the skull.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.7.24)

महाकपालं तत्तस्मात् त्रिषु लोकेषु गद्यते । स्थापितस्य कपालस्य यथा तदभवत्तदा

mahākapālaṁ tattasmāt triṣu lokeṣu gadyate | sthāpitasya kapālasya yathā tadabhavattadā

Therefore, throughout the three worlds, it is celebrated as 'Mahakapala,' in accordance with what took place when the skull was set down.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.7.25)

ख्यातं शिवतडागं तत्सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् । आगत्याथ ततो ब्रह्मा देवतानां गणैर्वृतः

khyātaṁ śivataḍāgaṁ tatsarvapāpapramocanam | āgatyātha tato brahmā devatānāṁ gaṇairvṛtaḥ

That pool, renowned as Shiva-tadaga, releases one from every sin. Then Brahma came there, surrounded by hosts of the gods.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.7.26)

कपर्दिनमुपामंत्र्य तं देशं सोन्वगृह्णत । अर्द्धयोजनविस्तीर्णं क्षेत्रमन्यत् समंततः । भविष्यति न संदेहः सिद्धक्षेत्रं महात्मनः

kapardinamupāmaṁtrya taṁ deśaṁ sonvagṛhṇata | arddhayojanavistīrṇaṁ kṣetramanyat samaṁtataḥ | bhaviṣyati na saṁdehaḥ siddhakṣetraṁ mahātmanaḥ

Addressing the matted-haired one (Rudra), he blessed that place; and another region too, extending half a yojana all around, shall, without doubt, become a siddha-kṣetra of that great lord.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.7.27)

श्मेति हि प्रोच्यते पापं क्षयं शानं विदुर्बुधाः । ध्यानेन नियमैश्चैव श्मशानं तेन संज्ञितम्

śmeti hi procyate pāpaṁ kṣayaṁ śānaṁ vidurbudhāḥ | dhyānena niyamaiścaiva śmaśānaṁ tena saṁjñitam

'Sha,' it is said, denotes sin, and the wise understand 'śāna' as its destruction; hence, through meditation and observances, that place is known as 'Śmaśāna.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.7.28)

गुह्य देवाधिदेवस्य परं प्रियमनुत्तमम् । एवं तत्र नरः पापं सर्वमेव प्रहास्यति

guhya devādhidevasya paraṁ priyamanuttamam | evaṁ tatra naraḥ pāpaṁ sarvameva prahāsyati

This is the secret, supreme, unsurpassed and beloved place of the god of gods; thus a man who comes there casts off all his sin.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.7.29)

त्रिरात्रोपोषितश्चैव अर्चयित्वा वृषध्वजम् । राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां फलं कृत्स्नमवाप्स्यति

trirātropoṣitaścaiva arcayitvā vṛṣadhvajam | rājasūyāśvamedhābhyāṁ phalaṁ kṛtsnamavāpsyati

Having fasted for three nights and worshipped the Bull-bannered one (Shiva), one obtains the complete fruit of both the Rajasuya and the Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.7.30)

यश्च प्राणान् प्रियाँस्तत्र परित्यक्ष्यति मानवः । स गुह्यगणदेवानां समतां समवाप्स्यति

yaśca prāṇān priyā~statra parityakṣyati mānavaḥ | sa guhyagaṇadevānāṁ samatāṁ samavāpsyati

And whatever man gives up his dear life there attains equal standing with the secret gaṇa-deities.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.7.31)

वायुरुवाच। ततः स तत्र संस्थाप्य देवस्यार्चाद्वयं शुभम् । सुरेश्वरश्चकाराशु रुद्रस्यायतनं शुभम्

vāyuruvāca| tataḥ sa tatra saṁsthāpya devasyārcādvayaṁ śubham | sureśvaraścakārāśu rudrasyāyatanaṁ śubham

Vayu said: Then, having set up there the auspicious twin images of the god, the lord of the gods swiftly raised an auspicious shrine to Rudra.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.7.32)

तत्राभिगमनादेव कृत्वा पापस्य संक्षयम् । रुद्रलोकमवाप्नोति स प्राहैवं पितामहः

tatrābhigamanādeva kṛtvā pāpasya saṁkṣayam | rudralokamavāpnoti sa prāhaivaṁ pitāmahaḥ

By merely going there, having destroyed his sin entirely, one attains the world of Rudra — so indeed spoke the Grandsire.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.7.33)

यत्र चापि शिरस्तस्य चिच्छेद भुवनेश्वरः । तत्र सोभवन्नाम्ना देशः पुण्यतमः शुभः

yatra cāpi śirastasya ciccheda bhuvaneśvaraḥ | tatra sobhavannāmnā deśaḥ puṇyatamaḥ śubhaḥ

And there, where the Lord of the universe severed his head, that most sacred and auspicious place came to be known by that very name.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.7.34)

ततो देवः सह गणैः रूपं विकृतमास्थितः । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानामन्तर्द्धानमगात् प्रभुः

tato devaḥ saha gaṇaiḥ rūpaṁ vikṛtamāsthitaḥ | paśyatāṁ sarvadevānāmantarddhānamagāt prabhuḥ

Then the god, in his fearsome form, together with his gaṇas, vanished from sight before the very eyes of all the gods.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.7.35)

एतच्च देवनाथेन कपालस्थानमव्ययम् । सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकस्य फलेन समयोजि यत्

etacca devanāthena kapālasthānamavyayam | sarvatīrthābhiṣekasya phalena samayoji yat

And this imperishable place of the skull was endowed by the lord of the gods with the merit equal to bathing at all the sacred fords.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.7.36)

तदद्यापि महद्दिव्यं सरस्तत्र प्रदृश्यते । महाकपालं विप्रेन्द्राः स्वर्गस्तत्राक्षयः स्मृतः

tadadyāpi mahaddivyaṁ sarastatra pradṛśyate | mahākapālaṁ viprendrāḥ svargastatrākṣayaḥ smṛtaḥ

O best of brahmins, that great and divine lake may still be seen there today; it is 'Mahakapala,' and it is remembered as an imperishable heaven.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.7.37)

इदं शुभं दिव्यमघौघशासनं महाह्रदं सेन्द्रसुरासुरार्चितम् । महाकपालप्रकृतोपवर्णनं सुरेशलोकादिविगाहने हितम्

idaṁ śubhaṁ divyamaghaughaśāsanaṁ mahāhradaṁ sendrasurāsurārcitam | mahākapālaprakṛtopavarṇanaṁ sureśalokādivigāhane hitam

This auspicious, divine, great pool — destroyer of the mass of sins, worshipped by gods and asuras together with Indra — and this account of the nature of Mahakapala are beneficial for one seeking entry into the world of the lord of the gods and beyond.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.7.38)

तपोधनैः सिद्धगणैश्च संस्तुतं दिविष्टतुल्यं द्विजराजमण्डलम् । पठेन्नरो यः शृणुयाच्च सर्वदा त्रिविष्टपं गच्छति सोभिनन्दितः

tapodhanaiḥ siddhagaṇaiśca saṁstutaṁ diviṣṭatulyaṁ dvijarājamaṇḍalam | paṭhennaro yaḥ śṛṇuyācca sarvadā triviṣṭapaṁ gacchati sobhinanditaḥ

Praised by ascetics rich in austerity and by hosts of siddhas, this heaven-like assembly of the foremost brahmins (or: the moon's orb) — whoever always reads or hears of it goes to heaven, honored and celebrated.