Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 35
Sourceनारद उवाच- अथान्यत्तत्र वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्नात्वा तत्र विधानेन तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्नृप १। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तिं भुक्तिं च विंदति । पिशाचमोचनं नाम तीर्थमन्यत्ततः स्थितम् २। तत्राश्चर्यमयो देवो मुक्तिदः सर्वदोषहः । कश्चिद्दैत्यो जगामेदं शार्दूलो घोररूपधृक् ३। मृगीमेकां भक्षयितुं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । तत्र सा भीतहृदया कृत्वा कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् ४। धावमाना सुसंभ्रांता व्याघ्रस्य वशमागता । तां विदार्य नखैस्तीक्ष्णैः शार्दूलः स महाबलः ५। जगाम चान्यं विजनं देशं दृष्ट्वा मुनीश्वरान् । मृतमात्रा च सा बाला कपर्दीशाग्रतो मृगी ६। अदृश्यत महाज्वाला व्योम्नि सूर्यसमप्रभा । त्रिनेत्रा नीलकंठा च शशांकांकित मूर्द्धजा ७। वृषाधिरूढा पुरुषैस्तादृशैरेव संवृता । पुष्पवृष्टिं विमुंचंति खेचरास्तत्समंततः ८। गणेश्वरी स्वयं भूत्वा न दृष्टा तत्क्षणात्ततः । दृष्ट्वा तदाश्चर्यवरं प्रशशंसुः सुरादयः ९। तन्महेशस्य वै लिंगं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । स्मृत्वैवाशेषपापौघात्क्षिप्रमस्य विमुंचति १०। कामक्रोधादयो दोषा वाराणसी निवासिनाम् । विघ्नाः सर्वे विनश्यंति कपर्दीश्वरपूजनात् ११। तस्मात्सदैव द्रष्टव्यं कपर्दीश्वरमुत्तमम् । पूजितव्यं प्रयत्नेन स्तोतव्यं वैदिकैस्तवैः १२। ध्यायतां चात्र नियतं योगिनां शांतचेतसाम् । जायते योगसिद्धिः स्यात्षण्मासेन न संशयः १३। ब्रह्महत्यादयः पापा विनश्यंत्यस्य पूजनात् । पिशाचमोचने कुंडे स्नातः स्यात्प्रशमो यतः १४। तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे पुरा विप्रस्तपस्वी संशितव्रतः । शंकुकर्ण इति ख्यातः पूजयामास शंकरम् १५। जजाप रुद्रमनिशं प्रणवं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् । पुष्पधूपादिभिस्तोत्रैः नमस्कारैः प्रदक्षिणैः १६। उपासीतात्र योगात्मा कृत्वा दीक्षां तु नैष्ठिकीम् । कदाचिदागतं प्रेतं पश्यति स्म क्षुधान्वितम् १७। अस्थिचर्म पिनद्धांगं निश्वसंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । तं दृष्ट्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठः कृपया परया युतः १८। प्रोवाच को भवान्कस्माद्देशाद्देशमिमं श्रितः । तस्मै पिशाचः क्षुधया पीड्यमानोऽब्रवीद्वचः १९। पूर्वजन्मन्यहं विप्रो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । पुत्रपौत्रादिभिर्युक्तः कुटुंबभरणोत्सुकः २०। न पूजिता महादेवा गावोऽप्यतिथयस्तथा । न कदाचित्कृतं पुण्यमल्पं वानल्पमेव च २१। एकदा भगवान्देवो वृषभेश्वरवाहनः । विश्वेश्वरो वाराणस्यां दृष्टः स्पृष्टो नमस्कृतः २२। तदाचिरेण कालेन पंचत्वमहमागतः । न दृष्टं तन्महाघोरं यमस्य सदनं मुने २३। पिपासयाधुनाक्रांतो न जानामि हिताहितम् । यदि कंचित्समुद्धर्तुमुपायं पश्यसि प्रभो २४। कुरुष्व तं नमस्तुभ्यं त्वामहं शरणं गतः । इत्युक्तः शंकुकर्णोऽथ पिशाचमिदमब्रवीत् २५। तादृशो नहि लोकेस्मिन्विद्यते पुण्यकृत्तमः । यत्त्वया भगवान्पूर्वं दृष्टो विश्वेश्वरः शिवः २६। संस्पृष्टो वंदितो भूयः कोऽन्यस्त्वत्सदृशो भुवि । तेन कर्मविपाकेन देशमेतं समागतः २७। स्नानं कुरुष्व शीघ्रं त्वमस्मिन्कुंडे समाहितः । येनेमां कुत्सितां योनिं क्षिप्रमेव प्रहास्यसि २८। स एवमुक्तो मुनिना पिशाचो दयालुना देववरं त्रिनेत्रम् । स्मृत्वा कपर्दीश्वरमीशितारं चक्रे समाधाय मनोवगाहम् २९। तदावगाढो मुनिसन्निधाने ममार दिव्याभरणोपपन्नः । अदृश्यतार्कप्रतिमो विमाने शशांकचिह्नीकृतचारुमौलि ३०। विभाति रुद्रैः सहितो दिविष्ठैः समाभृतो योगिरिभरप्रमेयैः । स वालखिल्यादिभिरेष देवो यथोदये भानुरशेषदेवः ३१। स्तुवंति सिद्धादि विदेवसंघा नृत्यंति दिव्याप्सरसोऽभिरामाः । मुंचंति वृष्टिं कुसुमांबुमिश्रां गंधर्वविद्याधरकिन्नराद्याः ३२। संस्तूयमानोऽथ मुनींद्रसंघैरवाप्य बोधं भगवत्प्रसादात् । समाविशन्मंडलमेतदग्र्यं त्रयीमयं यत्र विभाति रुद्रः ३३। दृष्ट्वा विमुक्तं स पिशाचभूतं मुनिः प्रहृष्टो मनसा महेशम् । विचिंत्य रुद्रं कविमेकमग्निं प्रणम्य तुष्टाव कपर्दिनं तम् ३४। शंकुकर्ण उवाच-। कपर्दिनं त्वां परतः परस्ताद्गोप्तारमेकं पुरुषं पुराणम् । व्रजामि योगेश्वरमीप्सितारमादित्यमग्निं कपिलाधिरूढम् ३५। त्वां ब्रह्मसारं हृदि संनिविष्टं हिरण्मयं योगिनमादिमं तम् । व्रजामि रुद्रं शरणं दिविष्ठं महामुनिं ब्रह्ममयं पवित्रम् ३६। सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभियुक्तं सहस्ररूपं तमसः परस्तात् । तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणमामि शंभुं हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिं त्रिनेत्रम् ३७। यत्र प्रसूतिर्जगतो विनाशो येनावृतं सर्वमिदं शिवेन । तं ब्रह्मपारं भगवंतमीशं प्रणम्य नित्यं शरणं प्रपद्ये ३८। अलिंगमालोकविहीनरूपं स्वयंप्रभुं चित्पतिमेकरूपम् । तं ब्रह्मपारं परमेश्वरं त्वां नमस्करिष्ये न यतोऽन्यदस्ति ३९। यं योगिनस्त्यक्तसबीजयोगा लब्ध्वा समाधिं परमात्मभूताः । पश्यंति देवं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यं तं ब्रह्मपारं परमस्वरूपम् ४०। न यत्र नामादिविशेष कॢप्तिर्न संदृशे तिष्ठति यत्स्वरूपम् । तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यं स्वयंभुवं त्वां शरणं प्रपद्ये ४१। यद्वेदवादाभिरता विदेहं सब्रह्मविज्ञानमभेदमेकम् । पश्यंत्यनेकं भवतः स्वरूपं तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यम् ४२। यतः प्रधानं पुरुषः पुराणो बिभर्ति तेजः प्रणमंति देवाः । नमामि तं ज्योतिषि सन्निविष्टं कालं बृहंतं भवतः स्वरूपम् ४३। व्रजामि नित्यं शरणं गुहेशं स्थाणुं प्रपद्ये गिरिशं पुराणम् । शिवं प्रपद्ये हरिमिंदुमौलिं पिनाकिनं त्वां शरणं व्रजामि ४४। स्तुत्वैवं शंकुकर्णोऽपि भगवंतं कपर्दिनम् । पपात दंडवद्भूमौ प्रोच्चरन्प्रणवं परम् ४५। तत्क्षणात्परमं लिंगं प्रादुर्भूतं शिवात्मकम् । ज्ञानमानंदमत्यंतं कोटिज्वालाग्निसन्निभम् ४६। शंकुकर्णोऽथ मुक्तात्मा तदात्मा सर्वगोऽमलः । निलिल्ये विमले लिंगे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ४७। एतद्रहस्यमाख्यातं माहात्म्यं ते कपर्द्दिनः । न कश्चिद्वेत्ति तमसा विद्वानप्यत्र मुह्यति ४८। य इमां शृणुयान्नित्यं कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । त्यक्तपापविशुद्धात्मा रुद्रसामीप्यमाप्नुयात् ४९। पठेच्च सततं शुद्धो ब्रह्मपारं महास्तवम् । प्रातर्मध्याह्नसमये स योगं प्राप्नुयात्परम् ५०। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे वाराणसीमाहात्म्ये पंचत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ३५।
nārada uvāca- athānyattatra vai liṃgaṃ kapardīśvaramuttamam | snātvā tatra vidhānena tarpayitvā pitṝnnṛpa 1| mucyate sarvapāpebhyo muktiṃ bhuktiṃ ca viṃdati | piśācamocanaṃ nāma tīrthamanyattataḥ sthitam 2| tatrāścaryamayo devo muktidaḥ sarvadoṣahaḥ | kaściddaityo jagāmedaṃ śārdūlo ghorarūpadhṛk 3| mṛgīmekāṃ bhakṣayituṃ kapardīśvaramuttamam | tatra sā bhītahṛdayā kṛtvā kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam 4| dhāvamānā susaṃbhrāṃtā vyāghrasya vaśamāgatā | tāṃ vidārya nakhaistīkṣṇaiḥ śārdūlaḥ sa mahābalaḥ 5| jagāma cānyaṃ vijanaṃ deśaṃ dṛṣṭvā munīśvarān | mṛtamātrā ca sā bālā kapardīśāgrato mṛgī 6| adṛśyata mahājvālā vyomni sūryasamaprabhā | trinetrā nīlakaṃṭhā ca śaśāṃkāṃkita mūrddhajā 7| vṛṣādhirūḍhā puruṣaistādṛśaireva saṃvṛtā | puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ vimuṃcaṃti khecarāstatsamaṃtataḥ 8| gaṇeśvarī svayaṃ bhūtvā na dṛṣṭā tatkṣaṇāttataḥ | dṛṣṭvā tadāścaryavaraṃ praśaśaṃsuḥ surādayaḥ 9| tanmaheśasya vai liṃgaṃ kapardīśvaramuttamam | smṛtvaivāśeṣapāpaughātkṣipramasya vimuṃcati 10| kāmakrodhādayo doṣā vārāṇasī nivāsinām | vighnāḥ sarve vinaśyaṃti kapardīśvarapūjanāt 11| tasmātsadaiva draṣṭavyaṃ kapardīśvaramuttamam | pūjitavyaṃ prayatnena stotavyaṃ vaidikaistavaiḥ 12| dhyāyatāṃ cātra niyataṃ yogināṃ śāṃtacetasām | jāyate yogasiddhiḥ syātṣaṇmāsena na saṃśayaḥ 13| brahmahatyādayaḥ pāpā vinaśyaṃtyasya pūjanāt | piśācamocane kuṃḍe snātaḥ syātpraśamo yataḥ 14| tasminkṣetre purā viprastapasvī saṃśitavrataḥ | śaṃkukarṇa iti khyātaḥ pūjayāmāsa śaṃkaram 15| jajāpa rudramaniśaṃ praṇavaṃ brahmarūpiṇam | puṣpadhūpādibhistotraiḥ namaskāraiḥ pradakṣiṇaiḥ 16| upāsītātra yogātmā kṛtvā dīkṣāṃ tu naiṣṭhikīm | kadācidāgataṃ pretaṃ paśyati sma kṣudhānvitam 17| asthicarma pinaddhāṃgaṃ niśvasaṃtaṃ muhurmuhuḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā sa muniśreṣṭhaḥ kṛpayā parayā yutaḥ 18| provāca ko bhavānkasmāddeśāddeśamimaṃ śritaḥ | tasmai piśācaḥ kṣudhayā pīḍyamāno'bravīdvacaḥ 19| pūrvajanmanyahaṃ vipro dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ | putrapautrādibhiryuktaḥ kuṭuṃbabharaṇotsukaḥ 20| na pūjitā mahādevā gāvo'pyatithayastathā | na kadācitkṛtaṃ puṇyamalpaṃ vānalpameva ca 21| ekadā bhagavāndevo vṛṣabheśvaravāhanaḥ | viśveśvaro vārāṇasyāṃ dṛṣṭaḥ spṛṣṭo namaskṛtaḥ 22| tadācireṇa kālena paṃcatvamahamāgataḥ | na dṛṣṭaṃ tanmahāghoraṃ yamasya sadanaṃ mune 23| pipāsayādhunākrāṃto na jānāmi hitāhitam | yadi kaṃcitsamuddhartumupāyaṃ paśyasi prabho 24| kuruṣva taṃ namastubhyaṃ tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ | ityuktaḥ śaṃkukarṇo'tha piśācamidamabravīt 25| tādṛśo nahi lokesminvidyate puṇyakṛttamaḥ | yattvayā bhagavānpūrvaṃ dṛṣṭo viśveśvaraḥ śivaḥ 26| saṃspṛṣṭo vaṃdito bhūyaḥ ko'nyastvatsadṛśo bhuvi | tena karmavipākena deśametaṃ samāgataḥ 27| snānaṃ kuruṣva śīghraṃ tvamasminkuṃḍe samāhitaḥ | yenemāṃ kutsitāṃ yoniṃ kṣiprameva prahāsyasi 28| sa evamukto muninā piśāco dayālunā devavaraṃ trinetram | smṛtvā kapardīśvaramīśitāraṃ cakre samādhāya manovagāham 29| tadāvagāḍho munisannidhāne mamāra divyābharaṇopapannaḥ | adṛśyatārkapratimo vimāne śaśāṃkacihnīkṛtacārumauli 30| vibhāti rudraiḥ sahito diviṣṭhaiḥ samābhṛto yogiribharaprameyaiḥ | sa vālakhilyādibhireṣa devo yathodaye bhānuraśeṣadevaḥ 31| stuvaṃti siddhādi videvasaṃghā nṛtyaṃti divyāpsaraso'bhirāmāḥ | muṃcaṃti vṛṣṭiṃ kusumāṃbumiśrāṃ gaṃdharvavidyādharakinnarādyāḥ 32| saṃstūyamāno'tha munīṃdrasaṃghairavāpya bodhaṃ bhagavatprasādāt | samāviśanmaṃḍalametadagryaṃ trayīmayaṃ yatra vibhāti rudraḥ 33| dṛṣṭvā vimuktaṃ sa piśācabhūtaṃ muniḥ prahṛṣṭo manasā maheśam | viciṃtya rudraṃ kavimekamagniṃ praṇamya tuṣṭāva kapardinaṃ tam 34| śaṃkukarṇa uvāca-| kapardinaṃ tvāṃ parataḥ parastādgoptāramekaṃ puruṣaṃ purāṇam | vrajāmi yogeśvaramīpsitāramādityamagniṃ kapilādhirūḍham 35| tvāṃ brahmasāraṃ hṛdi saṃniviṣṭaṃ hiraṇmayaṃ yoginamādimaṃ tam | vrajāmi rudraṃ śaraṇaṃ diviṣṭhaṃ mahāmuniṃ brahmamayaṃ pavitram 36| sahasrapādākṣiśirobhiyuktaṃ sahasrarūpaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt | taṃ brahmapāraṃ praṇamāmi śaṃbhuṃ hiraṇyagarbhādhipatiṃ trinetram 37| yatra prasūtirjagato vināśo yenāvṛtaṃ sarvamidaṃ śivena | taṃ brahmapāraṃ bhagavaṃtamīśaṃ praṇamya nityaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye 38| aliṃgamālokavihīnarūpaṃ svayaṃprabhuṃ citpatimekarūpam | taṃ brahmapāraṃ parameśvaraṃ tvāṃ namaskariṣye na yato'nyadasti 39| yaṃ yoginastyaktasabījayogā labdhvā samādhiṃ paramātmabhūtāḥ | paśyaṃti devaṃ praṇato'smi nityaṃ taṃ brahmapāraṃ paramasvarūpam 40| na yatra nāmādiviśeṣa kḷptirna saṃdṛśe tiṣṭhati yatsvarūpam | taṃ brahmapāraṃ praṇato'smi nityaṃ svayaṃbhuvaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye 41| yadvedavādābhiratā videhaṃ sabrahmavijñānamabhedamekam | paśyaṃtyanekaṃ bhavataḥ svarūpaṃ taṃ brahmapāraṃ praṇato'smi nityam 42| yataḥ pradhānaṃ puruṣaḥ purāṇo bibharti tejaḥ praṇamaṃti devāḥ | namāmi taṃ jyotiṣi sanniviṣṭaṃ kālaṃ bṛhaṃtaṃ bhavataḥ svarūpam 43| vrajāmi nityaṃ śaraṇaṃ guheśaṃ sthāṇuṃ prapadye giriśaṃ purāṇam | śivaṃ prapadye harimiṃdumauliṃ pinākinaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇaṃ vrajāmi 44| stutvaivaṃ śaṃkukarṇo'pi bhagavaṃtaṃ kapardinam | papāta daṃḍavadbhūmau proccaranpraṇavaṃ param 45| tatkṣaṇātparamaṃ liṃgaṃ prādurbhūtaṃ śivātmakam | jñānamānaṃdamatyaṃtaṃ koṭijvālāgnisannibham 46| śaṃkukarṇo'tha muktātmā tadātmā sarvago'malaḥ | nililye vimale liṃge tadadbhutamivābhavat 47| etadrahasyamākhyātaṃ māhātmyaṃ te kaparddinaḥ | na kaścidvetti tamasā vidvānapyatra muhyati 48| ya imāṃ śṛṇuyānnityaṃ kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm | tyaktapāpaviśuddhātmā rudrasāmīpyamāpnuyāt 49| paṭhecca satataṃ śuddho brahmapāraṃ mahāstavam | prātarmadhyāhnasamaye sa yogaṃ prāpnuyātparam 50| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe vārāṇasīmāhātmye paṃcatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 35|
English translation
Nārada said :
1-2a. Now there is another excellent Liṅga , (called) Kapardīśvara. O king, having bathed there according to proper rites and offered oblations to manes, one is freed from all sins and obtains salvation and enjoyment.
2b-11. Then there is another holy place called Piśācamocana. There is the wonderful (form of) god that gives salvation and that removes all blemishes. A demon taking up a terrible form of a tiger went to the excellent Kapardīśvara to eat up a female deer. There she with her heart frightened again and again circumambulated (the deity). Running and extremely perpflexed [perplexed?] she came under the sway of the tiger. That very strong tiger having torn her with sharp nails went to another place after having noticed the best sages. That young female deer almost dead looked in front of Kapardīśa , like a great flame, lustrous like the moon in the sky. (She appeared) to have three eyes, dark blue throat, and with her hair on the head marked with the moon, to have mounted upon a bull, and surrounded by men like her only. The (divine) beings roaming in the sky, showered upon her flowers on all sides. Being turned into one of the female chiefs of Śiva ’s attendants she vanished just at that moment only. Seeing that great wonder the gods and others praised it. That is the Liṅga of Śiva called Kapardīśvara, the best one. By merely remembering, it a man gets quickly free from his sins. All blemishes like passion, anger, and difficulties of the residents of Vārāṇasī perish by worshipping Kapardīśvara.
12-14. Therefore one should always see the excellent Kapardīśvara, one should worship (the Phallus) with great care, and should extol (the lord) with Vedic hymns. There is no doubt that the meditating saints of tranquil minds who always meditate (upon the lord), attain perfection within six months. By worshipping this deity sins like killing a brāhmaṇa perish, since one who has bathed in the tank called Piśācamocana obtains peace.
15-24. Formerly, a brāhmaṇa ascetic of a severe vow and known as Śaṅkukarṇa worshipped Śiva at that holy place. He constantly muttered (the names of) Rudra of the form of Brahman . The meditating saint taking the vow devoutly worshipped there the lord by means of flowers, incense etc., hymns, salutation and circumambulations. Once he saw a hungry ghost with its body covered with bones and skin, sighing repeatedly, that had come there. Having seen him the best sage full of great pity said (to him): “Who are you? From what region have you come to this region?” The ghost oppressed by hunger, said (these) words to him: “In my former existence I was a brāhmaṇa having wealth and grains. I had sons and grandsons and was eager to maintain my family. I did not worship great deities, cows and guests. I never did any small or big (act of) religious merit. Once I saw the revered Viśveśvara having the lord of bulls as his vehicle, touched him, and saluted him. Then after a short time I died. (But) O sage, I did not see (i.e. go to) that very terrible house of Yama . Now, being overpowered by thirst I do not know what is beneficial or otherwise. O lord, if you see some means to emancipate me, (please) do it. Salutation to you. I have sought your refuge (now).”
25-28. Saṅkukarṇa who was thus addressed by the ghost, said to him: “There is no person like you who has done the most meritorious deed, since you have formerly seen Śiva, the lord of the universe. You touched him and again saluted him. Who else in the world is like you? Due to the ripening of the deed you have come to this region. Being calm, quickly cast off this vile body here only.”
29-34. That ghost, thus addressed by that kind sage, remembered after making his mind tranquil, Kapardīśvara, the best, three-eyed god, and bathed there. Then, he having bathed there near the sage and endowed with divine ornaments died and was seen in an aeroplane resembling the sun and had his charming head marked with the moon. With Rudras living in heaven and being looked after by the meditating saints along with the unbounded Vālakhilyas , [1] he shines like the full god, the sun at the time of rising. Siddhas and hosts of gods praise him in the heaven. Charming celestial nymphs danced. Gandharvas , Vidyādharas and kinnaras etc. showered flowers mixed with water. Being praised by the groups of the best sages, having secured knowledge by the favour of the lord, he entered that best orb full of the three (gods) where Rudra shines. Seeing the ghost liberated the sage, being pleased in mind, thought about Rudra, the only wise one, saluted Agni , and praised that Kapardin .
Śaṅkukarṇa said :
35. I approach you, Kapardin, greater than the great, the protector, the only ancient man, the lord of deep meditation, the giver of desired objects, the sun, the fire, and the one mounted upon a tawny bull.
36-44. I seek the refuge of you, the essence of Brahman, placed in my heart, full of gold, possessing miraculous power, the beginning and the end (of the world), Rudra, staying in heaven, a great sage, of the nature of Brahman and pure, endowed with a thousand feet, eyes and heads of a thousand forms, and (remaining) beyond darkness. I salute the eternal Śambhu , the extreme limit of Brahman, the revered one, the lord, the lord of Hiraṇyagarbha , the three-eyed one, and also seek the refuge of (you), wherefrom the world has originated, and unto whom it will perish (i.e. merge), and by whom, i.e. Śiva, this entire (world) is pervaded. I salute you, who are without any characteristic mark, whose form cannot be seen, who are your own lord and of that of the soul, who are of a uniform nature, who are beyond Brahman, and who are the highest lord, other than whom nothing exists; whom the meditating saints who have become one with the highest soul, giving up meditation along with mystical letter forming the essential part of the hymn, after securing concentration see. I always bow to him who is beyond Brahman and of the highest form. I always salute him who is beyond Brahman, who has no qualification like a name, whose form cannot be seen. I seek your shelter, of the self-born one. I always salute your form which is beyond Brahman, which is not one, which, those engaged in Vedic recitals see to be without a body, to be without distinctions, to be one along with the knowledge of Brahman, from which Pradhāna (or Prakṛti ) and the ancient Puruṣa obtain lustre, (which) the gods salute. I salute him, remaining in the lustre, the huge time, which is your form. I always seek the refuge of Guheśa; I approach the ancient Sthāṇu (i.e. Śiva), living on the mountain. I approach Śiva, Hari , (Śiva) having the moon on his head, the trident-holder. I seek your refuge.
45-47. Thus having praised the revered Kapardin, Śaṅkukarṇa also prostrated himself on the ground and uttered the highest (syllable) Om. At that moment only the great Phallus of Śiva appeared there. It was knowledge, joy, and very much like the fire having a crore of flames. Śaṅkukarṇa’s soul was liberated. His pure soul moved everywhere. It merged into that pure Phallus. (Thus) a great wonder took place.
48-50. I have thus told you the secret and the greatness of Kapardin. Nobody knows it. Even a learned man is deluded through ignorance. He who would daily listen to this account that destroys sins, would with his soul being purified due to having abandoned sins, secure proximity with Rudra. He who being pure would always recite this hymn (called) Brahmapāra in the morning, noon and evening would secure the highest contemplation.
[1]: [1] : Vālakhilyas—This is the name of a class of sages of the size of a thumb. Sixty thousand were produced from Brahmā’s body and surround the chariot of the sun.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43175, revision 333722 (2022-03-15T17:06:02Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365254.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.