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.
स्नातश्चावभृथे हृष्टो ब्राह्मणैः परिवारितः
Having bathed in the concluding ritual, delighted and surrounded by brāhmaṇas—
नानौषधिप्रभावज्ञो मंत्रतंत्र विशारदः
He was knowledgeable in the properties of various herbs and skilled in mantras and tantras.
तयोस्त्वरितमुत्थाय स राजाभ्यागतक्रियाम्
Rising quickly, that king performed the rites for the arriving guests.
तावर्चितावासनस्थौ क्षमाशीलौ शुचिव्रतौ अनेकसृष्टिसंहारस्थितिकार्यपरायणौ
They were worshipped, seated on their seats, patient in forgiveness, pure in their vows, devoted to the many tasks of creation, dissolution, and sustenance.
उदयादित्यसंकाशौ विभावसुसमद्युती
Radiant like the rising sun, shining with the brilliance of fire.
विनयेनोपसंगम्य प्रणिपत्याभिवाद्य च
Approaching with humility, he bowed down and greeted them.
ध्यातोथ पूजितो नॄणां मुक्तिदो भवबंधनात् ।। 5.2.59.
When meditated upon or worshipped, he grants liberation from the bondage of existence to men.
संस्मृते तु हृषीकेशे नराणां कोटिजन्मजम्
When Hṛṣīkeśa is remembered, the sins of countless births of men are destroyed.
समाराध्य जगन्नाथं शक्राद्यास्त्रिदिवौकसः
Having worshipped the Lord of the universe, the dwellers of heaven such as Indra,
जन्ममृत्युजरा रोगैर्दुःखानि विविधानि च
Birth, death, old age, diseases, and various kinds of sufferings,
इति पृष्टस्तदा तेन प्रार्थितेन यशस्विना
Thus questioned at that time by the illustrious one who had made the request,
क एष प्रोच्यते राजंस्त्वया नारायणोऽधुना
Who is this, O King, whom you now call Nārāyaṇa?
युवां नारायणौ कस्मादिति वाक्यमुवाच सः
He spoke this word: 'Why do you and Nārāyaṇa (both) exist?'
शंखचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जनार्द्दनः
Janārddana, holding the conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow garments,
तस्य राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा संसिद्धौ योगकोविदौ
Hearing the king's words, those two accomplished and skilled in yoga,
कपिलो मंत्रमाहात्म्यात्स्वयं विष्णुर्बभूव ह
Kapila, by the greatness of the mantra, himself became Viṣṇu.
जैगीषव्यश्च गरुडस्तत्क्षणात्समजायत 5.2.59.
And Jaigīṣavya became Garuḍa at that very moment.
दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं गरुडस्थं सनातनम् उवाच क्षाम्यतां सिद्धौ नायं विष्णुरथेदृशः
Seeing the eternal god Nārāyaṇa seated upon Garuḍa, he spoke: 'Forgive me, O accomplished one; this is not Viṣṇu in such a form.'
इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा तदा तौ सिद्धसत्तमौ
Thus, hearing the king's words, those two eminent siddhas at that time,
कपिलः पद्मनाभस्तु पद्ममध्ये प्रजापतिः
Kapila became Padmanābha, and Prajāpati appeared in the lotus's center.