उक्तोऽहं प्रणयात्तेन न मां तापय नारद
Out of affection, he said to me: 'Do not torment me, Nārada.'
भवतः पार्श्वमायातः प्रणयेन तपोधन
Out of affection, O treasure of austerity, I have come to your side.
मया सार्धं त्वया ब्रह्मन्गतिः कार्याऽविकल्पतः भविष्यति न संदेहो मम कीर्तिश्च सुस्थिरा
O Brahman, you must attain the state of Brahman together with me, without doubt; my fame too will remain firm.
एवं हि ब्रुवतस्तस्य प्रयागस्य नृपोत्तम
As he was thus speaking, O best of kings, at Prayaga—
शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिर्गरुडस्थो वियद्गतः
He appeared in the sky, mounted on Garuda, holding conch, discus, and mace in his hands.
एहि नारद गच्छामः प्रयागो यत्र यास्यति
"Come, Narada, let us go where Prayaga is going."
ज्ञानं मे देहि देवेश कथं यास्यामि तद्वनम् 5.2.58.
"O Lord of gods, grant me knowledge: how shall I go to that forest?"
इत्युक्तः श्रीधरेणाहं महाकालवनं नृप
Thus addressed by Sridhara, O king, I went to the great forest of Mahakala.
तत्र लिंगमनादि तु ज्योतीरूपं सनातनम्
There was the beginningless linga, eternal and radiant in form.
प्रयागः पूजयामास पश्यतो मम भूपते
Prayaga worshipped it while I was watching, O king.
प्रयाग प्रयतो भूत्वा प्रसन्नोऽहं सदा तव
"O Prayaga, having become pure, I am always pleased with you."
इत्युक्तस्तेन लिंगेन मदर्थं प्रार्थितस्तदा
Thus addressed by that linga, he then prayed for my sake.
नष्टा वेदाश्च शास्त्राणि सावित्र्या दर्शनात्प्रभो
The Vedas and the scriptures had disappeared, O Lord, after the vision of Savitri.
ततो लिंगात्समुत्तस्थौ ब्रह्मा वेदैर्वृतस्तदा
Then Brahma arose from the linga, surrounded by the Vedas.
इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा देव्या सावित्र्या नृपसत्तम
Thus I was addressed at that time by the goddess Savitri, O best of kings.
प्रतिभास्यंति ते वेदा धर्मशास्त्राणि नारद
"The Vedas and the Dharma-shastras will appear to you, O Narada."
ज्ञानं षडंगसहितं शास्त्राणि विविधानि च 5.2.58.
"Knowledge together with the six limbs, and various scriptures as well."
प्रयागेनार्चितो देवो मम ज्ञानस्य कारणात्
The god was worshipped at Prayaga for the sake of my knowledge.
तदाप्रभृति तल्लिंगं तीर्थकोटिशतैर्वृतम्
From that time, that linga has been surrounded by hundreds of crores of sacred fords.
किमनेनाश्वमेधेन इष्टेन नृपसत्तम
"What is the use of this Ashvamedha sacrifice that has been performed, O best of kings?"
तपसा किं सुतप्तेन कायक्लेशकरेण तु
Of what use is austerity, however well-performed, if it only brings hardship to the body?
प्रियव्रतो महादेवि महाकालवनं गतः
O great goddess, Priyavrata went to the great Kāla forest.
ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं नवनद्यास्तु दक्षिणे
There, on the southern bank of the Navanadī river, he saw that liṅga.
मया संमानितो देवि गणानामधिपः कृतः ते धन्या मानुषे लोके क्लिश्यन्त्यन्ये निरर्थकाः
Honored by me, O goddess, he was made the lord of the gaṇas; those men are blessed in the world, while others suffer in vain.
या गतिर्योगयुक्तस्य सत्त्वस्थस्य मनीषिणः
That state which is attained by the wise, steadfast in virtue and united with yoga—
माघमासे समेष्यंति प्रयागेश्वरदर्शनम्
In the month of Māgha, they will come to behold the Lord of Prayāga.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः 5.2.58.
Thus, O goddess, I have told you the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्य खंडे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये प्रयागेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामाष्टपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Prayāgeśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avantya Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सिद्धिः पुंसां प्रजायते
By whose mere sight, accomplishment arises for men—
आसीदश्वशिरानाम राजा परमधार्मिकः
There was a king named Aśvaśirā, supremely righteous.