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.'
एह्येहि नृपशार्दूल दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मेंऽतिके
'Come, come, O tiger among kings! By good fortune you have come near me.'
तद्धुंकारात्तु पातालं भित्त्वा पंच च कन्यकाः
Then, from his loud utterance, piercing the netherworld, five maidens—
भृंगारं तु गृहीत्वान्या निःसृता जलसंभृतम्
Another woman, taking a vessel, went out filled with water.
अन्ये द्वे व्यजने गृह्य पार्श्वाभ्यां च व्यवस्थिते
Others took two fans and stood on either side.
तेन हुंकारशब्देन देवलोकात्समागतम्
By that sound of 'hum', it was as if something had come from the realm of the gods.
अनंतरं ददर्शाथ लिंगं ज्योतिष्करं परम्
Immediately after, he saw a supreme linga, radiant with light.
तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टो बभूव नृपसत्तमः 5.2.54.
Upon seeing that, the best of kings was overcome with amazement.
एवं पृष्टो नृपेणाथ स विप्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, when questioned by the king, the sage spoke these words:
अतस्ते दर्शिता माया तपसा दुष्करेण तु
Thus, this illusion has been shown to you, achieved through difficult austerity.
हुंकारेण कृता पृथ्वी जलपूर्णा तु तत्क्षणात्
By the utterance of 'hum', the earth was instantly filled with water.