एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, this power of yours has been described, which destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये शूलेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-first chapter, called 'The Description of the Greatness of Śūleśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avantya book of the glorious Skanda Purāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
ओंकारेश्वर इत्याख्या यस्यास्ति भुवनत्रये
He whose name is Omkāreśvara is known in the three worlds.
प्राकृते कल्पसंज्ञे तु प्रथमे प्रथमं मया
In the first age, called Prākṛta Kalpa, I was the first to do so.
ततः स पुरुषो दिव्यः किं करोमीत्युपस्थितः
Then that divine person appeared, asking, 'What should I do?'
निर्वाणस्येव दीपस्य गतिस्तस्य न लक्षिता
His state was not perceived, like the path of a lamp at extinction.
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य चतुर्मित्योत्थितस्ततः
As he was thinking thus, four arose from him.
ऋग्यजुःसामनामा च ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः
Named Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāma, embodying Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva,
ओंकार इति तस्याख्या मया दता प्रसादतः
By my grace, I gave him the name Omkāra.
हृदयात्तस्य देवस्य वषट्कारः समुत्थितः
From the heart of that god arose the syllable vaṣaṭ.
षट्कुक्षिः सा त्रिपादा च पंचशीर्षोपलक्षिता
It is marked by six bellies, three feet, and five heads.
गायत्री मधुराभाषा सावित्री लोकविश्रुता सृष्टिं कुरु ममादेशाद्विचित्रामनया सह ।। 5.2.52.
Gāyatrī, sweet-spoken, Sāvitrī, renowned in the worlds—create the wondrous creation by my command together with her.
इत्युक्तस्त्रिशिखो भूत्वा हिरण्यसदृशाकृतिः
Thus addressed, he became three-crested, with a form shining like gold.
पूर्वं देवगणाश्चैव त्रयस्त्रिंशच्च देवताः
Formerly, the hosts of gods and the thirty-three deities as well—
तेषां देहे प्रविष्टानां प्रादुर्भावः पुनर्भवेत्
When they entered into his body, their manifestation appeared again.
संहृत्योंकारमखिलान्सदेवासुरपन्नगान्
Having absorbed the Om sound, along with all gods, asuras, and serpents,
ससर्ज सर्वभूतानि कल्पांते पर्वतात्मजे
He created all beings at the end of the age, O daughter of the mountain.
कर्त्ता चैव विकर्त्ता च संहर्ता च महांस्तु यः
He is the great one who is the creator, the transformer, and the destroyer.
ओंकारपूर्वकं ज्ञानं तपश्चोंकारपूर्वकम्
Knowledge preceded by Om, and austerity too, is preceded by Om.
स वायुरिति विज्ञेयः सर्वज्ञः स प्रजाकरः
He should be known as Vayu; he is all-knowing, the creator of beings.
प्रजानां पतयश्चैव सप्त चैव महर्षयः
The lords of creatures and the seven great sages as well—
दैत्याः पिशाचा रक्षांसि भूतानि विविधानि च सर्वे चतुष्पदाश्चैव तिर्यग्योनिगतास्तदा ।। 5.2.52.
The daityas, piśācas, rākṣasas, and various other beings, and all four-footed creatures, and those born in animal wombs at that time,
जंगमानि च सत्त्वानि यच्चान्यज्जीवसंज्ञकम्
And all moving beings, and whatever else is known as living.
प्रणम्य प्रयतो भूत्वा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Having bowed and become intent, he spoke these words:
देहि मे परमं स्थानं यथा कीर्त्तिर्ध्रुवा भवेत्
Grant me the supreme place, so that my fame may be everlasting.
ममाभीष्टकरं स्थानं नित्यमव्ययमक्षयम्
A place fulfilling my desire, eternal, imperishable, and undecaying.
तत्र ते भविता कीर्त्तिः शाश्वती नात्र संशयः
There your fame will become everlasting—of this there is no doubt.
त्रिकल्पप्रभवं लिंगं त्वन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमेष्यति
A liṅga arising in three ages will become renowned by your name.
इत्युक्तो हि मया देवि ओंकारो हृष्टमानसः
Thus addressed by me, O goddess, Om, with delighted mind,
ततः प्रभृति वेदेषु ओंकारः क्रियते द्विजैः
From that time onward, Om is employed by the twice-born in the Vedas.