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.
जाताः प्रजाश्च सुमुखाः प्रवृत्तश्च महोत्सवः
Beautiful people were born, and a great festival commenced.
राजाथ चिंतयामास मया पापमिदं कृतम्
Then the king thought, 'I have committed this sin.'
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य पृथोरमिततेजसः
As that Pṛthu of immeasurable splendor was thinking thus,
दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं दीनं चिंतयानं पृथुं प्रिये 5.2.49.
Seeing Pṛthu so afflicted and lost in thought, O beloved,
ततः स कथयामास मया पापमिदं कृतम्
Then he confessed, 'I have committed this sin.'
काँल्लोकानु गमि ष्यामि कृत्वा कर्म सुदारुणम्
To which worlds shall I go, having performed such a terrible deed?
अथ चेष्टोपदेशेन दुःखादुद्धर मां द्विज महापापप्रशमनं लिंगमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Therefore, by your instruction and effort, O twice-born, lift me from this sorrow; tell me of the supreme glory of the liṅga, which destroys great sins.
महाकालवने लिंगमभयेश्वरपश्चिमे गच्छ त्वं सहसा राजंस्तत्र पूतो भविष्यसि
In the great Kāla forest, to the west of the Abhayeśvara liṅga, go there quickly, O king; there you will become purified.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पृधुस्तत्र जगाम सः
Hearing Nārada's words, Pṛthu went there.
द्वादशादित्यसंकाशो बभूव पृथिवीपतिः
The lord of the earth became radiant like twelve suns.
ततोंऽतरिक्षगैर्देवि कृतं नाम वरानने अद्यप्रभृति विख्यातो देवोऽयं पृथुकेश्वरः
Then, O beautiful-faced goddess, by those who move in the sky, this name was given; from this day, this god is renowned as Pṛthukeśvara.
ये च द्रक्ष्यंति देवेशं पृथुकेश्वरमीश्वरम्
And whoever sees the lord of gods, Pṛthukeśvara, the Lord—
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि यत्पापं जायते नृणाम्
Whatever sin arises among men, whether from ignorance or knowledge,
वाचिकं मानसं वापि कायिकं गुह्यसंभवम् तत्सर्वं यास्यति क्षिप्रं पुथुकेश्वरदर्शनात् ।। 5.2.49.
Whether by speech, mind, body, or from secret causes—all of that is swiftly removed by the sight of Pṛthukeśvara.
पूजयिष्यंति ये भक्त्या देवं वै पृधुकेश्वरम्
Those who worship with devotion the god Pṛthukeśvara—
भुक्त्वा राज्यं मनुष्याणां देवानां च महीतले
Having enjoyed sovereignty among men and gods on earth—
इत्युक्त्वा देवसंघैश्च पूजितः पृथुकेश्वरः
Having spoken thus, Pṛthukeśvara was worshipped by the hosts of gods.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
Thus, O goddess, I have told you the power of Pṛthukeśvara, destroyer of sins.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां सहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिंगमाहात्म्ये पृथुकेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकोनपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-first chapter, named 'The Greatness of Pṛthukeśvara,' 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 ग्रहबाधा न जायते
By whose mere sight no affliction from planets arises—