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.
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा क्षेमार्थं कृपया मया
Hearing their words, out of compassion I acted for their welfare.
आदेशो दीयतां देव किं करोमीत्युवाच सः
He said, 'O god, give your command—what shall I do?'
ममांगाद्रजसा जातस्तेनांगारक उच्यसे
Born from the dust of my body, you are therefore called Aṅgāraka.
इदानीं वक्रतां यातो वक्रस्त्वं गीयसे बुधैः आहारेण विना देव कथं तृप्तिर्भविष्यति
Now you have become crooked in course, and are called Vakra by the wise; O god, how will you be satisfied without food?
तस्मान्मे देहि सुस्थानमाधिपत्यं च देहि मे
Therefore, grant me a good abode and give me lordship.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्रोऽयं मम वल्लभः
Hearing his words, I thought, 'This is my beloved son.'
इति संचिन्त्य मनसा स्मृतं स्थानं मयोत्तमम्
Thinking thus in my mind, I remembered the most excellent place.
दत्तं पुत्र मया स्थानं महाकालवनोत्तमे
I gave you, my son, a place in the most excellent Mahākāla forest.
खगर्ता चैव शिप्रा च संगमस्तत्र विद्यते
There, the Khagartā and the Śiprā rivers meet.
यदा मया धृता गंगा तदा सा चन्द्रमण्डलात् 5.2.43.
When I held the Gaṅgā, then she came from the lunar orb.