निबबन्ध पुराणे ऽस्मिंश्चतुर्विंशसहस्रके
This was composed in the Purāṇa containing twenty-four thousand verses.
तत्रादौ शुभसंवादः स्मृतोभूमिवराहयोः
There, at the beginning, is remembered the auspicious dialogue between Bhūmi and Varāha.
दुर्जयस्य च तत्पश्चाच्छ्राद्धकल्प उदीरितः
After that, the Śrāddha rites of Durjaya are described.
विनायकस्य नागानां सेनान्यादित्ययोरपि
The stories of Vināyaka, the Nāgas, the commander of the army, and the Ādityas as well—
आख्यानं सत्यतपसो व्रताख्यानसमन्वितम्
The narrative of Satyatapas, accompanied by accounts of vows—
महिषासुरविध्वंसमाहात्म्यं च त्रिशक्तिजम्
And the glory of the destruction of Mahiṣāsura, born of the three powers—
इत्यादि कृतवृत्तान्तं प्रथमे दर्शितं मया
Thus, such events have been shown by me in the first section.
द्वात्रिंशदपराधानां प्रायश्चित्तं शरीरगम्
Atonement for thirty-two offenses, relating to the body—
मथुराया विशेषेण श्राद्धादीनां विधिस्ततः
Then, especially for Mathurā, the rites of śrāddha and others—
विपाकः कर्मणां चैव विष्णुव्रतनिरूपणम्
The result of actions, and the explanation of Viṣṇu vows—
इत्येवं पूर्वभागो ऽयं पुराणस्य निरूपितः
Thus, this is the first part of the Purāṇa that has been described.
संवादे सर्वतीर्थानां माहात्म्यं विस्तरात्पृथक्
In the dialogue, the greatness of all the sacred fords is explained separately and in detail.
इत्येवं तव वाराहं प्रोक्तं पापविनाशनम्
Thus, O Varāha, your account has been told, which destroys sin.
काञ्चनं गरुड कृत्वा तिलधेनुसमन्वितम्
Having made a golden Garuḍa together with a sesame-cow—
स लभेद्वैष्णवं धाम देवर्षिगणवन्दितः
He attains the Vaishnava abode, honored by hosts of divine sages.
सो ऽपि भक्तिं लभेद्विष्णौ संसारोच्छेदकारिणीम्
He too obtains devotion to Vishnu, which brings about the destruction of worldly existence.
यस्मिन्प्रतिपदं साक्षान्महादेवो व्यवस्थितः
In which, at every step, the great god himself is directly present.
लक्षं तस्यार्थं जातस्य सारो व्यासेन कीर्तितः
The essence of that, which was composed for a purpose, has been proclaimed by Vyasa.
एकाशीतिसहस्रं तु स्कान्दं सर्वोघकृतंनम्
Indeed, the Skanda Purana consists of eighty-one thousand verses, composed for the benefit of all.
यत्र माहेश्वरा धर्माः षण्मुखेन प्रकाशिताः
There, the Shaiva dharmas were revealed by six-faced Skanda.
तस्य माहेश्वरश्चाथ खण्डः पापप्रणाशनः
And then, its Shaiva section destroys sins.
सुचरित्रशतैर्युक्तः स्कन्दमाहात्म्यसूचकः
It is filled with hundreds of noble stories, indicating the greatness of Skanda.
दक्षयज्ञकथा पश्चाच्छिवलिङ्गार्चने फलम्
Afterwards comes the tale of Daksha's sacrifice and the fruit of worshipping the Shiva-linga.
पार्वत्याः समुपाख्यानं विवाहस्तदनन्तरम्
Then follows the narrative of Parvati, and immediately after, her marriage.
ततः पाशुपताख्यानं चण्डाख्यानसमन्वितम्
Then comes the story called Pashupata, together with the tale of Chanda.
ततः कुमारमाहात्म्ये पञ्चतीर्थकथानकम्
After that, in the section on Kumara's greatness, is the narration of the five sacred fords.
इन्द्रद्युम्नकथा पश्चान्नाडीजङ्घकथान्वितम्
Next is the story of Indradyumna, along with the tale of Nadijaṅgha.
महीसागरसंयोगः कुमारेशकथा ततः
The union of earth and ocean, and then the story of Kumareśa.
वधश्च तारकस्याथ पञ्चलिङ्गनिवेशनम्
Then the slaying of Taraka, and the establishment of the five lingas.
ब्रह्माण्डस्थितिमानं च वर्करेशकथानकम्
The account of the stability of the cosmic egg, and the story of Varkareśa.