सौभाग्येश्वरपूर्वे तु सौभाग्यारोग्यदायकम्
Formerly presided over by Saubhāgyeśvara, it bestows good fortune and health.
जैगीषव्येन सिद्धेन मया वैं नृपसत्तम
By Jaigīṣavya, the accomplished sage, and by me, O best of kings,
तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि सर्वेशं शंखचक्रगदाधरम
There you will see the Lord of all, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.
संसिद्धा बहवस्तत्र सनकाद्या नरेश्वर
Many perfected beings are there, O lord of men, including Sanaka and others.
जगाम सहसा तत्र स राजाश्वशिरास्तदा
Then that king, Ashvashiras, went there at once.
अन्ये च बहवः सिद्धाः सिद्धनाथास्तथा परे 5.2.59.
And many other accomplished ones, as well as lords of the perfected, were also present.
लिंगमध्ये स्थित विष्णुं ज्ञात्वा स नृपसत्तमः
Recognizing Viṣṇu within the liṅga, that best of kings,
ततस्तुष्टोऽब्रवीद्देवो वरं वरय सुव्रत
Then the pleased god spoke: 'Choose a boon, O steadfast one.'
लिंगस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा नृपेणोक्तं च तच्छृणु
Hearing the words of the liṅga, the king replied—listen to this.
यत्ते रूपं परं नाथ तद्दर्शय ममाच्युत
'O imperishable Lord, show me that supreme form of yours.'
आजन्मनो जगन्नाथ कदा द्रक्ष्ये जनार्द्दनम् दीयमानं त्वयाभीष्टं ख्यातं सिद्धेश्वरं क्षितौ
'O Lord of the universe, from birth I have wondered when I will see Janārdana, you, granting the desired boon, renowned as Siddheśvara on earth.'
नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा लिंगेनोक्तं वरानने
Hearing the king's words, the liṅga spoke, O beautiful-faced one.
परं रूपं नृपश्रेष्ठ कृष्णोऽहं लिंगतां गतः
'O best of kings, I am Kṛṣṇa, having assumed the form of the liṅga.'
न चैते मां विजानंति परमार्थेन पार्थिव
'Yet these people do not truly know me in the highest sense, O king.'
एतदेव हि ब्रह्माद्या ध्यायन्ति त्रिदशास्त्वमी
Indeed, this very thing is meditated upon by Brahmā and the other gods.
अनेकजन्मसंशुद्धा योगिनो मदनुग्रहात् 5.2.59.
Yogis purified through countless births, by my grace, attain this.
एवं हि बुवतस्तस्य सिद्धिः प्राप्ता नृपेण हि
Thus, while he was engaged in this, the king truly attained success.
अतो देवि सुविख्यातं लिंगं सिद्धेश्वरं परम्
Therefore, O goddess, this renowned liṅga is called Siddheśvara, the supreme.
अंजनं पादलेपं च पादुकासिद्धिरेव च
The collyrium, the foot-ointment, and the attainment of the sandals,
दिव्यौषधैश्च या सिद्धिर्मंत्रस्पर्शोद्भवा च या
And whatever success arises from divine herbs or from the touch of mantras,
धर्मार्थकाम सिद्धिश्च मोक्षसिद्धिरनुत्तमा
Success in righteousness, wealth, and desire, and the unsurpassed attainment of liberation,
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
This, O goddess, I have told you—the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीति लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये सिद्धेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकोनषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Siddheśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avanti Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
विद्धि पापहरं देवि समीहितकरं सदा
Know, O goddess, that it always destroys sin and fulfills desires.
सुगतिर्नाम विप्रेन्द्रो बभूव द्वापरे युगे
There was a Brāhmaṇa named Sugati who lived in the Dvāpara Yuga.
मतंगस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभूद्बाल्याद्दारुणतां गतः दण्डकाष्ठेन सहसा ताडयामास चापलात्
His son was Mataṅga, who from childhood became fierce; out of mischief, he suddenly struck with a stick of wood.
तं तु तीव्राहतं दृष्ट्वा गर्दभी पुत्रगृद्धिनी
Seeing him grievously struck, the she-donkey, desiring her son,
ब्राह्मणे दारुणं नास्ति मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते
There is nothing cruel in a Brāhmaṇa; a Brāhmaṇa is said to be friendly.
स्वकीयां भजते चाथ प्रकृतिं मानवः सदा
Yet a man always follows his own nature.
दंडकाष्ठं परित्यज्य रासभीं प्रत्यभाषत
Abandoning the stick, he then spoke to the she-donkey.