पूष्णश्च दंताः संभग्ना मोहितश्च दिवाकरः
Even Pūṣan's teeth were broken, and the sun himself was bewildered.
पशवश्च कृता देवा मुनयो वेदवर्जिताः
Beasts were made into gods, and sages were deprived of the Vedas.
दुर्जयानीन्द्रियाण्याहुर्मुनयो वेदपारगाः
Sages accomplished in the Vedas say that the senses are hard to conquer.
तस्माद्राजन्महाबाहो मा विषादं वृथा कृथाः पशुपालो महादेवि वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे
Therefore, O king of mighty arms, do not fall into useless despair; the great Lord of creatures began to speak.
पशुभावाच्च ब्रह्मापि श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्
Even Brahmā, due to his animal nature—this I wish to hear, let it be told.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदः पुनरब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, Nārada spoke again.
ब्रह्माणमग्रतः कृत्वा गताः शरणमीश्वरम्
Having placed Brahmā at their head, they went to seek refuge with the Lord.
उवाच वचनं राजन्यत्कर्तव्यं तदुच्यताम्
He spoke these words: 'O kings, tell me what is to be done.'
देवा ऊचुः देवस्त्वं पूर्ववद्देव यदि तुष्टो महेश्वरः ।।5.2.64.
The gods said: 'O god, as before, if the great Lord Maheśvara is pleased—'
महाकालवने क्षेत्रे पशुभावविमोक्षके
In the sacred field of Mahākālavana, which grants release from the state of bondage—
अहं पतिर्वो भविता ततो मोक्षमवाप्स्यथ लिंगरूपी भविष्यामि नाम्ना पशुपतीश्वरः
'I shall become your Lord; then you will attain liberation. I will take the form of a liṅga, known as Paśupatīśvara.'
अथ ते त्रिदशाः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा देवं तमीश्वरम् ब्रह्मा पशुपतिं प्राह प्रसन्नेनांतरात्मना
Then all the gods, seeing that Lord, the Supreme Ruler, Brahmā addressed Paśupati with a heart full of joy.
ये त्वां पश्यन्ति देवेश भक्त्या परमया युताः स्वकैः कर्मविपाकैश्च तेषां मोक्षो भविष्यति
'O Lord of gods, those who see you with supreme devotion, and through the results of their own actions, for them there will be liberation.'
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि यत्पापं क्रियते नरैः
'Whether out of ignorance or knowledge, whatever sin is committed by men—'
ते नराः पशवो लोके किं तेषां जीविते फलम्
'Those men are like cattle in the world; what fruit is there in their lives?'
कौमारे यौवने बाल्ये वार्द्धके यदुपार्जितम्
'Whatever is acquired in childhood, youth, adolescence, or old age—'
पौषमासे तु संप्राप्ते ये त्वां पश्यंति मानवाः
'But when the month of Pauṣa arrives, those men who see you—'
सूर्यग्रहे यथा दत्तं कुरुक्षेत्रे विशेषतः
'Whatever is given during a solar eclipse, especially at Kurukṣetra—'
पौषमासे दिनैकेन नराणामधिकं तथा 5.2.64.
'In the month of Pauṣa, in a single day, men obtain even more.'
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोकं गतो नृप
Having spoken thus, the blessed Brahmā returned to Brahmaloka, O King.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र यदीच्छसि परां गतिम् महाकालवनं गत्वा इन्द्रेश्वरस्य दक्षिणे
Therefore, O king, if you desire the highest state, go to Mahākālavana, to the south of Indreśvara.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदस्य महात्मनः दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य गतोऽसौ परमां गतिम्
Hearing those words of the great sage Nārada, and by seeing that liṅga, he attained the supreme state.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O goddess, thus I have told you the glory that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये पशुपती श्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुष्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-fourth chapter, called 'The Description of the Greatness of Paśupatīśvara,' 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 ब्रह्मलोको ह्यवाप्यते
By merely beholding him, one attains the world of Brahma.
पुलोमानाम दैत्येंद्रो महाबलपराक्रमः
Puloman, the lord of the Daityas, was of immense strength and valor.
आनर्चुस्तेऽपि तं दैत्यं सुरेशं त्रिदशा इव
Even the gods worshipped that Daitya as their lord, just as the immortals do.
अद्यापि लोकपालानामर्केंदुज्वलनांभसाम्
Even now, the guardians of the worlds—of the sun, moon, fire, and waters—
यदि नाम ततः किं मे तपसा जीवितेन च
If that is so, then what use are my austerities or even my life?
सर्वैरेतैः परिवृतः पौलोमैर्बलवत्तरैः तावच्छयानं सहसा ह्यपश्यन्मधुसूदनम्
Surrounded by all those powerful Paulomas, they suddenly saw Madhusudana lying down.