England's new era began with a scrappy first win at Murrayfield in eight years as Scotland's familiar failings contributed to their 13-6 downfall.
Two Dan Parks penalties handed Scotland a 6-3 half-time lead and put the hosts on course for just a second opening weekend win in 13 attempts in the tournament before he turned villain 24 seconds into the second half.
Charlie Hodgson charged down a Parks kick before applying the scoring touch. Farrell converted and finished with eight points on his debut.
The television match official ruled against Greig Laidlaw - on for Parks - after 63 minutes, and for all Scotland's endeavour they could not breach the white wall of defenders as England returned home with the Calcutta Cup following a first win in Edinburgh since 2004.
England interim head coach Stuart Lancaster had named a side showing 10 changes from the last Test - the Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to France, Martin Johnson's last as boss - and was rewarded.
The pack, led by captain Chris Robshaw, stood toe to toe with their more experienced rivals as the new faces - and one old in Hodgson, making his first start in four years - ensured the defending champions prevailed.
Next up on the road to redemption following the ill-fated World Cup campaign are Italy next weekend.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson, meanwhile, remains without a win over his compatriots in four attempts, with the perennial problems of numerous errors and a continual failure to find the try-line.
Robinson now travels to World Cup semi-finalists Wales with a record of two wins from 11 Six Nations matches in charge, and facing the prospect of another disappointing tournament.
While for England it may be the dawning of a new era, for Scotland it was simply a missed opportunity.