रेवंतेश्वरसंज्ञोऽहं भविष्यामि न संशयः तेषामश्वा भविष्यंति विजयो यश ऊर्जितम्
I shall be known as Revaṃteśvara, without doubt. Their horses will prevail; victory and renowned strength will be theirs.
ऐश्वर्यं दानशक्तिश्च पुत्रपौत्रमनंतकम्
Sovereignty, the power to give, and endless sons and grandsons—
लिंगस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रोक्तं वै रविसूनुना
Having heard the words concerning the liṅga, spoken by the son of the Sun—
देहि मे ह्यचला भक्तिं देहि मे स्थानमुत्तमम्
Grant me unwavering devotion; grant me the highest place.
भगवन्भूतभव्येश भवबंधभयापह । संस्कृतार्थोऽस्मि संजातस्तव देवस्य दर्शनात्
O Lord, master of past and future, remover of the fear of bondage to existence, I am fulfilled in meaning, having arisen from the sight of your divine presence.
जन्मकोटिसुसंशुद्धा ये त्वां पश्यंति देहिनः ।। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिर्घोरसंसारसागरे
Those embodied beings who see you, purified through countless births, do not return again to the dreadful ocean of worldly existence.
इत्युक्त्वा रविसूनुर्वै रेवंतो रविवल्लभः
Having spoken thus, the son of the Sun, beloved of Reva, departed.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः । रेवंतेश्वरदेवस्य घंटेश्वरमथो शृणु
This, O goddess, is the power of Revaṃteśvara, destroyer of sin, as told to you. Now hear of Ghaṃṭeśvara.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीतिलिङ्ग माहात्म्ये रेवंतेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षट्पञ्चाशत्तमोऽयायः
Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of Revaṃteśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avanti book of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कामावाप्तिश्च जायते
By merely seeing him, the fulfillment of desires arises.
घंटोनाम गणश्रेष्ठो बभूव मम वल्लभः प्रस्थितो ब्रह्मसदनं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमव्ययम्
Ghaṃṭa, chief among the gaṇas and my beloved, set out for Brahmā's abode to see the imperishable Brahmā.
अथायान्तं समालोक्य गन्धर्वं गीतकोविदम्
Then, seeing him approach, a Gandharva skilled in song—
मया तत्रैव गन्तव्यं सदने परमेष्ठिनः।. गीतैराराधयिष्यामि ब्रह्माणं जगतां पतिम्
I too must go there, to the abode of the Supreme Lord; with songs I shall worship Brahmā, the master of the worlds.
चित्रसेनोऽथ तं देवि प्रत्युक्तो घंटमब्रवीत्
Then Citrasena, O goddess, replied and spoke to Ghaṃṭa.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा गणो घंटस्तस्थौ विस्मितमानसः
Hearing this, the gaṇa Ghaṃṭa stood, his mind astonished.
हित्वा स्वामिनमीशानं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमागतः
Leaving his master Īśāna, he had come to see Brahmā.
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य साग्रः संवत्सरो गतः
While he pondered thus, a full year passed.
निर्गच्छतमथालोक्य वीणाहस्तं समुत्सुकम्
Then, seeing one departing, eager and holding a vīṇā—
प्रोक्तो घंटेन सहसा मां निवेदय नारद 5.2.57.
Announce me at once together with Ghaṇṭa, O Nārada.
दर्शनार्थं समायातो ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः नारदः प्रत्युवाचेदं समाश्वास्य सकैतवम्
Having come for an audience with Brahmā, the supreme lord, Nārada replied these words, reassuring him with a hint of guile.
अहं बृहस्पतेः पार्श्वे प्रेषितोऽस्मि गणाधिप आयास्यामि क्षणेनैव तावत्कालं प्रतीक्ष्यताम्
I have been sent by Bṛhaspati, O lord of the gaṇas; I shall come in just a moment—please wait for that time.
इत्युक्त्वा नारदो देवि मम पार्श्वमुपागतः
Having spoken thus, O goddess, Nārada came to my side.
ईदृशो दुर्ल्लभो भृत्यो घंटेन सदृशः प्रभो स्थितः संवत्सरं साग्रं प्रवेशं न च लब्धवान्।।१४ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य नारदस्य मुनेस्तदा
Such a servant as Ghaṇṭa is rare indeed, O lord; he remained for a year and more, yet did not obtain entry.
मां त्यक्त्वा हि गतोन्यत्र सेवार्थं परवेश्मनि
Having abandoned me, he went elsewhere to serve in another’s house.
पतितो भूतले घंटो देवदारुवनांतिके
Ghaṇṭa fell to the earth near the Devadāru forest.
प्रोक्तं शोकोत्तरेणैव वचनं गद्गदाक्षरम्
He spoke words choked with grief, his voice faltering.
स याति नरकं घोरमपकीर्तिं च विंदति यस्मात्स्वामी न मे ब्रह्मा न च देवो महेश्वरः
He goes to a dreadful hell and attains disgrace, because neither Brahmā nor the god Maheśvara is my master.
एवं विलपतस्तस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः 5.2.57.
As he lamented in this way, the eminent sage Nārada—
देवदारुवने देवि दर्शनार्थं तपस्विनाम्
O goddess, in the Devadāru forest, for the sake of seeing the ascetics—
अवस्थामीदृशीं कृत्वा किमन्यन्मे करिष्यति
Having brought about such a condition, what else will he do to me?