तत्रैव लिंगमासन्नं साध्वि शूलेश्वरोत्तरे
Right there, near the liṅga of Śūleśvara, O virtuous one,
क्षणेन निधनं प्राप्तः स गतस्त्रिदशालयम्
In a moment, he met his death and went to the abode of the gods.
जातः ख्यातो विदर्भायां विश्वेशोनाम पार्थिवः
He was born, renowned in Vidarbha, as a king named Viśveśa.
दुर्लभान्बुभुजे भोगान्प्राप्तं राज्यं चकार सः संस्मरन्पूर्ववृत्तांतं जगामावंतिकां पुरीम्
He enjoyed rare pleasures and attained a kingdom; remembering his former deeds, he went to the city of Avanti.
तत्र दृष्ट्वा महल्लिंगं दुर्दर्शमतितेजसा
There, he saw the great liṅga, difficult to behold and of immense brilliance.
लिंगमध्ये स्थिताः सर्वे सागराः सरितस्तथा
Within the liṅga, all the oceans and rivers are present.
चंद्रमाः सह नक्षत्रैरादित्यश्चाग्निना सह
The moon together with the stars, and the sun along with fire,
मरुतो देवगंधर्वा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
The Maruts, the divine Gandharvas, and the sages rich in austerity,
ब्रह्माद्या देवताश्चान्याः स्कंदो लंबोदरस्तथा
Brahma and other deities, as well as Skanda and Lambodara,
प्रभावं तस्य लिंगस्य ज्ञात्वा सम्यङ्महीपतिः 5.2.53.
Having fully understood the power of that linga, the king,
प्रसन्नश्चाभवत्तस्य वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Became pleased and spoke these words to him,
तेनोक्तं वचनं राज्ञा यदि तुष्टोसि मे प्रभो
The king said to him: 'If you are satisfied with me, O Lord,'
मा भूत्तेषां प्रपतनं घोरे संसारसागरे
'Let there not be a downfall for them in the dreadful ocean of worldly existence.'
इत्युक्ते वचने भूयो विश्वेशोऽलंकृतो गणैः
When these words were spoken, the Lord of the universe, adorned by the hosts,
गणैर्नानाविधैः सार्द्धं स्तूयमानो वरानने विमानं तस्य तद्दिव्यं परिक्रम्य समंततः
Together with various kinds of hosts, praised by the beautiful-faced ones, circled that divine vimana on all sides,
समहेंद्रधनाध्यक्षनानानाकनिवासिनः
Along with the guardians of wealth, the overseers, and the inhabitants of many realms,
नृत्येनामरनारीणां विलोकितविनोदकः
With the dance of celestial women, delighting those who behold,
अतो देवि भुवि ख्यातो देवो विश्वेश्वरेश्वरः
Therefore, O goddess, the god, Lord of all, is renowned on earth,
सप्तजन्मकृतैर्देही मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः
The embodied one, through actions of mind, speech, and body accumulated over seven births,
तस्य नश्यति दौर्भाग्यमलक्ष्मीर्नाशमेति च 5.2.53.
His misfortune and ill-luck are destroyed and vanish,
दुःस्वप्नो व्याधयः क्रूरा ग्रहा भूताश्च दारुणाः
Evil dreams, cruel diseases, fierce planets, and dreadful spirits,
ये केचिच्छ्रद्धया युक्ता लिंगमाराधयंति वै
Whoever, endowed with faith, truly worships the linga,
अंते गतिश्च सा दिव्या जायते मत्प्रसादतः
In the end, that divine path arises by my grace,
न तत्र दुर्भिक्षभयं नापमृत्युभयं क्वचित्
There, there is no fear of famine nor any fear of untimely death at any time.
एते च विष्णुब्रह्मेंद्रकुबेरवरुणादयः
These are Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Indra, Kubera, Varuṇa, and others.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, this power of his, which destroys sin, has been described to you.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पंचम आवंत्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रिपंचा शत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the fifth Avantya Khaṇḍa, in the greatness of the eighty-four Liṅgas, this is the three hundred and fifty-fifth chapter, named 'Description of the Greatness of Viśveśvara.'
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कृतकृत्यो नरो भवेत
By merely seeing him, a man becomes one who has accomplished his purpose.
आद्यकल्पे पुरा देवि राजाभूत्सत्यविक्रमः
In the earliest age, O Goddess, there was once a king named Satyavikrama.
वनं जगाम गहनमेकाकी श्रमकर्शितः
He went alone into a dense forest, worn out by fatigue.