चांद्रायणानां विधिवद्दशानामेव यत्फलम्
The fruit obtained from ten properly performed Cāndrāyaṇa rites—
इत्युक्त्वा गतवान्विष्णुर्वैकुंठं शाश्वतं प्रिये
Having spoken thus, Viṣṇu departed, beloved, to the eternal Vaikuṇṭha.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
Thus, O goddess, I have described to you this power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये ब्रह्मेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पंचषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-fifth chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Greatness of Brahmeśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the Avantya division of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण महापापं शमं व्रजेत्
By merely beholding him, even great sin comes to rest.
जल्पोनाम महादेवि राजाभूद्भुवि विश्रुतः
There was a king on earth named Jalpona, O great goddess, renowned everywhere.
विकल्पबहुलो नित्यं संसारगतिचिंतकः
He was ever full of doubts, always pondering the course of worldly existence.
तस्य राज्ञो वरारोहे मूर्ताः पंचाग्नयो यथा विक्रांतः पंचमः पुत्रः सर्वे शस्त्रास्त्रपारगाः
O beautiful one, that king had five sons, like embodied fires; the fifth, Vikrānta, was valiant, and all were skilled in weapons and missiles.
पित्रा जल्पेन ते राज्ञा पृथग्राज्ये प्रतिष्ठिताः
By their father Jalpona, the king, they were each established in separate kingdoms.
प्राच्यां सुबाहुर्नृपतिर्याम्यां वै शत्रुमर्दनः
Subāhu became king in the east, and Śatrumardana in the south.
मध्ये विक्रांतसंज्ञस्तु स्वपदे विनियोजितः
Vikrānta, so named, was placed in the central realm.
बभूवुर्मंत्रिणस्तेषां हिता वंशक्रमागताः
Their ministers were devoted to their welfare, descended from their own lineage.
विक्रांतस्य च यो मंत्री विकल्पैकपरायणः
And Vikrānta's minister was wholly devoted to deliberation.
यस्यैषा पृथिवी कृत्स्ना स समर्थः प्रकीर्तितः 5.2.66.
He was said to be capable of ruling this entire earth.
त्रिदशैश्चामृतं लब्धमुद्यमेन महीपते
Even the gods obtained ambrosia, O king, through effort.
हीनोद्यमा मानवा ये क्षत्त्रियाश्च विशेषतः
Those humans who lack effort, especially kṣatriyas—
स्नेहं च कुरुते भ्राता राज्यलुब्धोऽर्थकारणात् क्रियते न किमर्थं तु भूप मंत्रपरिग्रहः
A brother, greedy for the kingdom, feigns affection for the sake of gain; O king, then why is the gathering of ministers undertaken?
परोऽपि हितवान्बन्धुर्बन्धुरप्यहितः परः
Even an outsider may be beneficial, while a relative may be harmful; a relative may be an outsider, and an outsider a relative.
भूमिमेते निर्गिलंति सर्पा बिलशयानिव
These serpents, dwelling in their holes, emerge onto the earth.
मायया मोहितं सर्वं को वा कस्य च बांधवः
All is deluded by illusion—who, indeed, is kin to whom?
भ्रातृभिर्भ्रातरः सर्वे निहता राज्यकारणात्
For the sake of the kingdom, all the brothers have been slain by their own brothers.
इति मंत्रिवचः श्रुत्वा स राजा विस्मयान्वितः
Hearing these words of the minister, the king was filled with astonishment.
अतुष्टाः पृथगैश्वर्यं कथं कृत्स्ना भविष्यति ।।5.2.66.
How can complete unity arise when separate sovereignties are unsatisfied?
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता सुबाहुश्च द्वितीयः शत्रुमर्दनः
The eldest brother was Subahu, and the second was Shatrumardana.
कनिष्ठज्येष्ठता केयं राज्यं प्रार्थयतां नृणाम्
What is this seniority and juniority among men who desire the kingdom?
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाते विक्रांतेन महीभृता
And when the mighty king agreed, saying 'So be it,'
अथर्वणेन मंत्रेण पुरोधाः प्रचकार ह
The priest performed the consecration with an Atharvan incantation.
अथ कृत्या समुत्पन्ना पश्चात्कृत्याचतुष्टयम्
Then a magical being arose, and four tasks appeared afterward.
ततः समस्तलोकस्य विस्मयश्चाभवन्महान्
Then great astonishment arose among all the people.
ततः श्रुत्वा च निधनं पुत्राणां जल्पको नृपः
Then, having heard of the death of his sons, the talkative king—