वसूनां कारणाद्देवि शप्ता यस्मान्महानदि
O goddess, because of the Vasus, O great river, you have been cursed.
महाकालवने रम्ये सिद्धगंधर्वसेविते
In the delightful great forest of Time, attended by perfected beings and gandharvas,
सर्वसिद्धिकरं पुण्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम्
It is holy, bestowing all accomplishments, and destroys all sins.
पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा तुष्टा त्रिपथगामिनी शिप्रापि मे प्रिया पुण्या महापातकनाशिनी
Hearing the words of the Grandsire, the Ganga, who traverses three worlds, was pleased; the Sipra too is dear to me, holy, and destroyer of great sins.
इति संचिंत्य मनसा दिव्या देवनदी तदा
Thus reflecting in her mind, that divine river of the gods at that time
पूजयामास पयसा दिव्येन विधिना तदा
Then worshipped with divine water according to the proper rite.
ततः प्रभृति संजाता सा शिप्रा पूर्ववाहिनी गंगयाराधितो यस्मात्समीहितफलप्रदः
From that time onward, that river Śiprā began to flow eastward, for she was worshipped by Gaṅgā and grants the desired fruits.
संस्तुता देवगंधर्वैर्गंगा देवनदी तदा 5.2.42.
Then Gaṅgā, the divine river, was praised by the gods and Gandharvas.
समुद्रस्तत्र संप्राप्तो मानिता सा महानदी
There, the ocean arrived, and that great river was honored.
तत्समीपे महापुण्ये यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी
Near that place of great merit, the earth remains as long as it endures.
एवमुक्त्वा गता गंगा कलया तत्र संस्थिता
Having spoken thus, Gaṅgā departed and remained there in subtle form.
गोसहस्रफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः
The merit of donating a thousand cows arises there—of this there is no doubt.
सर्वयज्ञफलं सम्यक्सर्वदानफलं तथा
One attains the full fruit of all sacrifices and all gifts there as well.
तत्र तीर्थानि सुभगे पृथिव्यां यानि कानिचित्
O fortunate one, all the sacred fords that exist on earth are present there.
प्रयागं च कुरुक्षेत्रं केदारममरेश्वरम्
Prayāga, Kurukṣetra, Kedāra, and Amareśvara,
गोदावरी शतद्रुश्च बाहुदा वेत्रवत्यपि
Godāvarī, Śatadru, Bāhudā, and also Vetravatī,
गुप्तानि पुण्यतीर्थानि सिद्धक्षेत्राणि चैव हि
The hidden holy fords and the fields of perfection as well,
एतेषां फलमाप्नोति यः पश्यति समाहितः अतः पुण्यतमं स्थानं गीयते गणवंदिते ।।5.2.42.
Whoever beholds them with concentration attains their merit; therefore, O one praised by the hosts, this place is sung as the most sacred.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
Thus, O goddess, I have described to you the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये गंगेश्वर माहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वाचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-second chapter, named 'The Greatness of Gaṅgeśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four Liṅgas, in the fifth Avantya Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण जायते सर्वसंपदः
By merely seeing him, all prosperity arises.
आदिकल्पे पुरा जातो वक्रांगो लोहितच्छविः मया धृतो धरण्यां स विख्यातो भूमिपुत्रकः
In the beginning of the age, long ago, he was born with a crooked body and red complexion; I upheld him on the earth, and he became known as Bhūmiputraka.
जातमात्रे सुते तस्मिन्महाकाये भयावहे
As soon as that son was born, with a great and terrifying form,
क्षोभं गताः समुद्राश्च चेलुश्च धरणीधराः
The oceans were agitated, and the mountains of the earth trembled.
ऋषयो वालखिल्याश्च देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः
The sages, the Vālakhilyas, and the gods led by Indra,
सोच्छ्वाँसाः कथयामासुर्नमस्कृत्य पितामहम्
Breathless, after bowing to the Grandfather, began to speak.
हरगात्रोद्भवेनैव जातमात्रेण लीलया
By the very being born from the body of Hara, and by his play,
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Hearing their words, Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds,
मया पृष्टास्तु ते सर्वे किमर्थं भयविह्वलाः
When I questioned them all, 'Why are you seized by fear?'
तैः सर्वं कथितं देवि ममाग्रे भयविह्वलैः पीडितं भक्षितं चैव सदेवासुरमानवम् ।। 5.2.43.
They, trembling with fear, told me everything, O Goddess: that all—gods, asuras, and humans—had been tormented and devoured.