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.
तेनर्षिणा वसिष्ठेन दृष्टमात्रः स भूपतिः
That king was seen at once by the sage Vasiṣṭha.
ज्ञात्वा तपःप्रभावेन सूर्यवंशोद्भवं नृपम्
Knowing by the power of his austerity that the king was born of the solar dynasty,
स नृपः कथयामास वसिष्ठाय सुदुःखितः
That king, greatly distressed, spoke to Vasiṣṭha.
त्वामहं शरणं प्राप्तो दुःखैकायतनो यतः उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
I have come to you for refuge, for I am the very abode of suffering; by giving me instruction, you ought to show me your favor.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
Hearing those words of his, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha
महाकालवनं भूप व्रज त्वं कार्यसिद्धये
O king, go to the great Kāla forest for the accomplishment of your purpose.
तस्यास्तीरे शुभं लिंगं पृथुकेश्वर दक्षिणे अस्थिचर्मावशेषं तु चीरवल्कलधारिणम् ।। 5.2.54.
On its bank is the auspicious liṅga called Pṛthukeśvara to the south, remaining with only bones and skin, wearing bark and rags.
वचनात्तस्य विप्रस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः
By the words of that great-souled sage Vasiṣṭha,
ददर्श तापसं तत्र चिरंजीविनमव्ययम्
He saw there an ascetic, long-lived and imperishable.
तापसेन नृपो दृष्टो मित्रोऽयं मम वल्लभः
The ascetic, seeing the king, thought: 'This is my dear friend.'