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.
स विप्रैरभिषिक्तश्च तपः कृत्वा सुदुष्करम्
He was consecrated by the Brāhmaṇas and performed exceedingly difficult austerities.
स च स्वाध्यायरहिता निर्वषट्कारनिर्द्धनाः
He found the people devoid of study of the Vedas, lacking the Vaṣaṭ call, and destitute.
स दोग्धुमैच्छत्त्रैलोक्यं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
He wished to milk the three worlds, including the gods, asuras, and humans.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो नारदो मुनिसत्तयः
At that moment, the eminent sage Nārada arrived.
लोकत्रयविनाशाय मा कोपं कुरु भूपते गिलितानि च अन्नानि विद्ध्येवैतन्मतं मम ।। 5.2.49.
For the destruction of the three worlds, do not be angry, O king; know that the food has been swallowed—this is my opinion.
नारदस्य च वाक्येन क्रोधं चक्रे पृथुस्तदा
By the words of Nārada, Pṛthu then became angry.
मुमोच शस्त्रमाग्नेयं तेन सा धरणी तदा
He released a fiery weapon, and with it struck the earth.
सा वध्यमाना तेनैव नृपं वचनमब्रवीत्
Being attacked by that weapon, the earth spoke to the king.
गौरवध्या महीपाल वत्सं कृत्वा च दुग्धि माम्
O protector of the earth, I am to be milked like a cow; make a calf and then milk me.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दुदोह नृपसत्तमः
Hearing her words, the best of kings milked her.