Skandapurana 3.1.24

The venerable Sūta said:

Having bathed at Cakratīrtha, a man should then proceed to Śivatīrtha,

where, by mere ritual ablution, tens of millions of heinous sins

and associations with them are destroyed that very moment, O ascetics.

Having bathed here, Kālabhairava was released from the sin of killing a brahmin.

The seers said:

How did the killing of a brahmin come upon Kālabhairava Rudra, O great sage?

For what reason did it occur, O Sūta? You ought to tell us that here.

Śrī Sūta said:

All sages, I will relate an ancient event that grants liberation,

By the mere hearing of which one is freed from all sins. // 4

Formerly, a dispute arose between Prajāpati [Brahmā] and Viṣṇu

Over a certain matter, in the presence of all beings: // 5

"I alone am the creator of the universe; there is no other creator whatsoever.

I am the bestower of restraint and grace upon all the manifold creations. // 6

There is no one superior to me, nor equal to me, even among the gods."

Thus did Brahmā think in the presence of the gods in former times. // 7

Then Nārāyaṇa, laughing, spoke, O best of twice-born [sages]:

"Why do you speak thus now out of egoism? // 8

You ought not to utter such words again, O Vidhi [Brahmā].

I alone am the creator of the world, sacrifice [itself], Nārāyaṇa, the omnipresent lord. // 9

Without me, the existence of this universe would be impossible.

By my grace has this world, both motionless and moving, been created by you." // 10

While Brahmā and Viṣṇu, each seeking victory, were thus disputing,

The four Vedas came there before the gods

And spoke these true words, revealing the ultimate reality. // 11

The Vedas said:

"You, O Viṣṇu, are not the creator of the universe, nor are you, O Brahmā Prajāpati! // 12

Rather, Īśvara is the creator of the universe, higher than the highest, the all-pervading lord.

This world of moving and motionless things has been fashioned by his power of Māyā. // 13

Indeed, Sāmba, characterized by truth and other virtues, is worthy of reverence by all gods;

He alone is the creator, protector, and destroyer, the lord of the worlds." // 14

Having heard those words composed of auspicious syllables uttered by the Vedas,

Brahmā and Viṣṇu then said there, O best of twice-born [sages]: // 15

Brahmā and Viṣṇu said:

"Embraced by Pārvatī, embodied, the master of the Pramathas—

How can Śambhu be the supreme Brahman, free from all attachment?" // 16

When this was spoken by the two, the Praṇava (Oṃkāra) then spoke to them,

Though formless, having assumed a form, with a mighty voice, O twice-born: // 17

The Praṇava said:

"This Śambhu, Mahādeva, never sports with a Pārvatī

Who is distinct from himself, but with one who is of his own essential nature. // 18

This Śambhu has no ruler above him (anīśāna), self-luminous, taintless;

Mahādeva transcends the universe; he is declared in scripture as 'transcending the universe.' // 19

He is the self of all, the maker of all, independent, the cause of the being of all.

O Brahmā, at the time of creation he appoints you by means of the quality of rajas. // 20

O Keśava, Śambhu sends you forth with the quality of sattva for the purpose of protection,

And he directs the one named Kālarudra with tamas at the time of dissolution. // 21

Therefore, O Viṣṇu, there is never independence for you two,

Nor is it Prajāpati's; rather, independence belongs to Śambhu alone. // 22

O Brahmā, O Viṣṇu, why indeed is Maheśvara not recognized

By you two as the creator of all worlds and likewise surpassing the universe? // 23

Even that power, the goddess Umā, is never separate from Śaṃkara;

The goddess consists of the bliss of Śambhu; she is not considered incidental. // 24

Therefore Rudra transcends the universe, independent, free from conceptual distinction;

This Śaṃkara is to be worshipped by all gods, and by both of you as well. // 25

There is no maker of this Rudra, nor is anyone found superior to him;

Nor is an equal to him found across hundreds of worlds. // 26

Therefore, do not maintain delusion in vain, O Brahmā and Viṣṇu!"

Having heard what was thus spoken by the Praṇava, Brahmā and Keśava, // 27

Deluded by the Māyā of Śambhu, did not cast off their ignorance at all.

In the meantime, Brahmā beheld a great wonder: // 28

Pervading the entire sky, resembling countless suns,

An orb of light standing in the midst of the atmosphere, facing in all directions. // 29

In order to examine it, Brahmā emitted an upward-facing head;

With that fifth head created by the power of his austerity, he, // 30

The lord, continuously examined that orb of light.

That face flared up with anger from gazing upon that light. // 31

Resembling endless suns, that fifth head was blazing;

it shone like the submarine fire desiring to burn the worlds at the cosmic dissolution. // 32

And from that splendour was seen a blue-and-red person.

Seeing [him], Brahmā the creator then spoke to Parameśvara: // 33

“I know you, Mahādeva. Formerly you

came forth from my forehead, O Śambhu, my son named Rudra.” // 34

Hearing this speech filled with arrogance, Maheśvara

then sent forth a person named Kālabhairava. // 35

Kālabhairava fought for a long time with Brahmā—

he who arose as a portion of Mahādeva, bearing a trident, a chisel, and a mace. // 36

Having fought for a very long time with Brahmā, Kālabhairava

looked upon the bright fifth face of Brahmā. // 37

Beholding the upward-facing fifth mouth of the husband of Bhāratī

filled with immense pride, he blazed forth, exceedingly enraged. // 38

Then Bhairava severed that fifth head in fury.

Thereupon that Brahmā died, slain by Kālabhairava. // 39

By the grace of Īśvara, he regained life once more.

Then he looked upon Śaṃkara, adorned with the moon, // 40

adorned with ornaments of the eight serpent kings, Vāsuki and the rest.

Seeing Mahādeva, Śaṃkara together with Pārvatī, // 41

the creator attained knowledge pertaining to Maheśvara through the grace of Mahādeva.

Then he praised Giriśa, the choice boon-giver, Śiva: // 42

Brahmā said:

“Be gracious to me, O Giriśa, whose crest is fashioned of the moon!

Whatever wrong was done by me, O Śambhu, forgive it, O ocean of compassion! // 43

Forgive my arrogance, O Śaṃkara!”—thus again and again

he bowed to Soma, to him whose crest is fashioned of the crescent moon. // 44

Then the god, pleased with this Brahmā born from his own portion,

said, “Do not fear,” and Śambhu addressed Bhairava: // 45

Īśvara said:

“This eternal Brahmā is worthy of worship by the entire universe.

Now carry the head of this Viriñci who has been slain. // 46

For purification from the slaying of a brahmin, desiring the maintenance of world order,

wander for alms with the skull, O Bhairava, by my command!” // 47

Having spoken thus, O brahmins, Śaṃkara vanished right there—

the blue-throated Mahādeva whose half-body is the daughter of the mountain. Then

he caused Bhairava to take the face of the creator, O twice-born ones:

“Wander for purification from sin, indeed for the maintenance of the world. // 49

Bearing the skull in hand, let Bhairava receive alms!”

Having said this, Giriśa [summoned] a certain terrifying maiden // 50

named Brahmin-Murder, cruel, resembling the submarine fire.

Directing her [to follow], Giriśa spoke again to Bhairava: // 51

Īśvara said:

“O Bhairava, observe this observance for a year for purification from the slaying of a brahmin.

Wander through all sacred fords; bathe for your own purification. // 52

Then go to Vārāṇasī for the pacification of the slaying of a brahmin.

By entering Vārāṇasī, this vile slaying of a brahmin of yours

will be destroyed except for a fourth part; the fourth portion is not destroyed. // 53

I will tell you the destruction of that [portion], O Bhairava; listen to that! // 54

On the shore of the southern ocean, on Mount Gandhamādana,

an auspicious sacred ford was made by me for the benefit of all living beings, // 55

named Śiva, of great merit; go there with reverence.

By the mere entrance into it, this inauspicious slaying of a brahmin of yours // 56

will surely be destroyed without remainder by the māhātmya of the Śivatīrtha.”

Having spoken thus to Bhairava, Rudra went to Kailāsa in an instant. // 57

Then, skull in hand, Bhairava, urged by Śiva,

wandered through the worlds of gods, dānavas, yakṣas, and others. // 58

As he went, the exceedingly terrifying Brahmin-Murder followed him.

Having visited all the sacred fords and holy abodes // 59

in sport, the god Bhairava then went to Vārāṇasī.

When Bhairava, born of Śaṃkara's portion, entered Vārāṇasī,

the exceedingly vile killing of a brahmin was destroyed except for a fourth part.

With that fourth part, it pursued Bhairava born of Śaṃkara's portion.

Then that god Bhairava, holding a trident and carrying a skull,

went later by Śiva's command to Mount Gandhamādana.

Having gone there to Śivatīrtha, O twice-born ones, Bhairava bathed.

By mere ablution there, in that most great Śivatīrtha,

the exceedingly terrifying killing of a brahmin was completely dissolved.

At this juncture, Śambhu appeared before him.

Having manifested, Mahādeva spoke [these] words to Bhairava:

Īśvara said:

"Your [sin of] killing a brahmin has been completely destroyed by plunging into Śivatīrtha;

there is no doubt about this, O Bhairava of noble vows.

Place this skull in some spot in Kāśī."

Having spoken thus, the blessed Śambhu vanished right there.

Then, O brahmins, Bhairava also, freed from the killing of a brahmin

by the majesty of Śivatīrtha, went to the city of Vārāṇasī.

He set down the skull in a certain spot, O twice-born ones;

then that place obtained the name Kapālatīrtha.

Śrī Sūta said:

Such is the power of that holy Śivatīrtha which grants liberation,

which relieves great suffering, which destroys great sins,

which allays the afflictions of hell, and which bestows heaven and liberation.

The majesty of Śivatīrtha, which bestows liberation, has been told by me.

A mortal who constantly recites this is freed from the multitude of sorrows.

Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, named 'Description of Bhairava's Liberation from the Killing of a Brahmin' in the Praise of Śivatīrtha, in the Setumāhātmya of the third [section], the Brahmakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses.