इत्युक्त्वा कृतसंकेतौ तौ दैत्यौ बलगर्वितौ
Having spoken thus, those two Daityas, proud of their strength, made a pact.
ब्रह्मविष्णू तदा दृष्ट्वा दानवौ दुर्जयौ रणे
Then Brahmā and Viṣṇu saw those two Dānavas, unconquerable in battle.
अन्योन्यमूचतुस्तौ हि देशकालोचितं वचः
The two spoke to each other words suited to the time and place.
उपस्थितं भयं घोरं तत्र किं कार्यमस्ति नौ
A terrible danger has arisen here—what should we do now?
गम्यतां कृष्ण शीघ्रं वै महाकालवनोत्तमम् अहं तत्र गमिष्यामि व्रज त्वं तत्र केशव ।। 5.2.48.
Go quickly, Kṛṣṇa, to the excellent Mahākāla forest; I will go there—proceed there, Keśava.
इत्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा कृष्णो जगाम सह तेन वै तत्रापि दशसाहस्रकालः पर्यटतोस्तयोः
Thus addressed by Brahmā, Kṛṣṇa went with him; even there, for ten thousand cycles, the two wandered.
ततो ज्वालामयं दिव्यं नूपुरेश्वरदक्षिणे प्रार्थयांचक्रतुर्देवमभयं देहि नौ प्रभो
Then, at the right side of the divine lord of Nūpura, blazing with flames, they prayed: 'Grant us fearlessness, O Lord.'
शरणं भव देवेश दानवाभ्यां प्रपीडितौ
'Be our refuge, Lord of the gods, for we are afflicted by the Dānavas.'
शुश्राव गर्जितं ताभ्यां दानवाभ्यां पितामहः
The Grandfather heard the thunderous roar of those two Dānavas.
स एष मृत्युरस्माकमेति शीघ्रं भयावहः
"This is death approaching us swiftly, bringing terror."
भयार्त्तवचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणः केशवस्य च
Hearing the words of fear from Brahmā and Keśava,
दृष्टं ताभ्यां जगत्सर्वं सार्कचंद्रमहीधरम्
Those two beheld the entire universe, with sun, moon, and mountains.
समुद्रपीठसंयुक्तं नानावर्णाश्रमोज्ज्वलम्
Joined with the seat of the ocean, shining with various colors and stages of life.
ससप्तलोकविन्यासं सदेवासुरराक्षसम्
With the arrangement of the seven worlds, together with gods, demons, and rākṣasas.
दृष्ट्वौ भस्मीकृतौ दैत्यौ तेन लिंगेन पार्वति 5.2.48.
Seeing this, the two Daityas were reduced to ashes by that liṅga, O Pārvatī.
लिंगेनोक्तं प्रसन्नेन भवद्भ्यां किं ददाम्यहम्
The liṅga, being pleased, spoke: "What shall I grant to you both?"
ततो ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च वरयामासतुर्वरम्
Then Brahmā and Viṣṇu requested a boon.
ये च त्वां पूजयिष्यंति यक्ष्यंति च समाहिताः
"Whoever worships you and offers sacrifice with devotion,
अभयेश्वरसंज्ञस्तु ख्यातो भुवि भविष्यसि
You will be known on earth by the name Abhayeśvara.
भविष्यति भयं नैव संसारपतनं तथा
There will be no fear, nor falling into worldly existence.
दुःखिता दुर्भगा नारी दर्शनं या करिष्यति वीरं तु गुर्विणी कन्या पतिमाप्स्यति शोभनम्
A woman who is sorrowful or unfortunate, if she beholds you, O Hero, or a maiden who is pregnant, will obtain a worthy husband.
यंयं काममभिध्याय ये त्वां पश्यंति मानवाः
Whatever desire a person contemplates, those humans who see you—
एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा लिंगेन परमेश्वरि
Thus it shall be," said the liṅga, O Supreme Goddess.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, this, your power which destroys sin, has been described to you.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिंगमाहात्म्येऽभयेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामाष्टाचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Abhayeśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avantya Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
शृणु पंचाशदेकोनं देवेशं पृथुकेश्वरम्
Hear about the Lord of gods, Pṛthukeśvara, the forty-ninth, O one of the gods.
वंशे स्वायंभुवे देवि ह्यंगो राजा बभूव ह
O goddess, in the lineage of Svāyambhuva, there was a king named Aṅga.
वेननामा सुतो जातो नास्तिको धर्मदूषकः
A son named Vena was born to him, who was an atheist and a corrupter of righteousness.
स च शप्तो द्विजैर्देवि तत्क्षणान्निधनं गतः
He was cursed by the twice-born, O goddess, and at that very moment met his end.
शरीरे मातुरंशेन कृष्णांजनचयप्रभाः मथिताद्दक्षिणाद्धस्तात्पृथुः प्रथितविक्रमः
From his body, by a portion of his mother, shining like a mass of black collyrium, Pṛthu of renowned valor was churned from the right hand.