देवदारुवनं त्यक्त्वा महाकालवनं गतः पूजयामास विधिवत्परमेण समाधिना
Leaving behind the Devadaru forest, he went to the Mahakala forest and worshipped according to the proper rites, with supreme concentration.
तत्र वाणी समुत्पन्ना लिंगमध्याद्वरानने पुत्राणां नृपविप्राणामदृष्टं तत्र कारणम्
There, a voice arose from the midst of the linga, O beautiful-faced one; the cause of the disappearance of the king's sons and brahmins was revealed there.
विपाकेन स्वकीयेन गता वैवस्वतं पुरम् 5.2.66.
By the result of their own actions, they have gone to the city of Vaivasvata.
अनेन शुद्धभावेन तुष्टोऽहं नृपसत्तम
By this pure devotion, I am pleased with you, O best of kings.
संसारसागरे घोरे मा भवेन्मम जन्म च
May there not be birth for me in the dreadful ocean of worldly existence.
अक्षयां देहि मे कीर्त्तिं नाम्ना मे विश्रुतो भुवि
Grant me unfading fame, let me be renowned by name on earth.
वदंतु त्रिदशाः सर्वे एष मे दुर्लभो वरः तेषां वियोगो मा भूयात्पुत्रतो धनतोऽपि वा
Let all the gods declare this—this is my rare boon: may there never be separation from them, whether by loss of sons or wealth.
न संसारभयं तेषां दस्युतो नैव राजतः
They shall have no fear of worldly existence, nor from thieves, nor from kings.
शिवमस्तु सदा तेषां येषां त्वं दर्शनं गतः
May there always be auspiciousness for those to whom you have appeared.
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकैस्तु यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते नरैः
The merit that men obtain by bathing at all sacred places,
तावत्पतंति संसारे घोरे दुःखशताकुले
So long do they fall in the dreadful, pain-filled ocean of worldly existence.
यदा पापक्षयः पुंसां तदा ते दर्शनं भवेत्
When the sins of men are destroyed, then they attain your vision.
एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा तेन लिंगेन पार्वति 5.2.66.
Having thus spoken, Parvati, with that linga, declared, 'So it shall be.'
तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं प्राप्ते नृपे जल्पे वरानने भुक्तिदो मुक्तिदश्चैव सदाभीष्टकरः स्मृतः
When the king Jalpa attained dissolution in that linga, O beautiful-faced one, it is remembered as always granting enjoyment, liberation, and fulfillment of all desires.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, thus I have told you of this power, which destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये जल्पेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षदषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-sixth chapter, called 'The Description of the Greatness of Jalpeśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the Avantya division of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
सप्तषष्टिकसंख्याकं केदारेश्वरसंज्ञकम्
There is one called Kedāreśvara, counted as the sixty-seventh.
सृष्टिकाले पुरा देवि देवा व्याप्ता हिमेन हि
At the time of creation, O Goddess, the gods were indeed enveloped by snow.
हिमाद्रिणार्दिताः सर्वे वयं देव जगत्पते
All of us were afflicted by the Himālaya, O Lord of the world.
देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रोक्तं वै ब्रह्मणा प्रिये
Hearing the words of the gods, Brahmā spoke, O beloved.
नाहं यातुं समर्थोऽस्मि सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम् महादेव मृते देवा गतिरन्या न विद्यते
I am not able to go—this is the truth I have spoken. Without Mahādeva, O gods, there is no other refuge.
स एव शरणं देवः सर्वेषां नो भविष्यति
That very god will be the refuge for all of us.
कृता बुद्धिर्विचित्रा च हिमाद्रिश्च मया कृतः
A wondrous resolve was made, and the Himālaya was created by me.
हिमाचलस्य तस्यैव शास्ता देवो महेश्वरः
The lord Maheśvara himself is the ruler of that very Himālaya.
यत्र तिष्ठति विश्वात्मा देवदेवो महेश्वरः दृष्टोहं पूजितस्तैस्तु स्तुतोऽहं विविधैः स्तवैः
Where the Soul of the Universe, the god of gods, Maheśvara, abides—there I was seen, worshipped by them, praised with various hymns.
मया संमानिता देवाश्चतुवक्त्रः प्रपूजितः 5.2.67.१
The gods were honored by me, and the Four-faced One was duly worshipped.
किं कार्यं त्रिदशैः सार्द्धमागतोऽसि पितामह
For what purpose have you come here, O Grandfather, together with the gods?
हिमाचलं समाहूय मर्यादा च कृता मया
Having summoned Himācala, I have also established its boundaries.
देवानां विषयाश्चैव गंधर्वाणां तथैव च
The domains of the gods, and likewise of the Gandharvas, have been assigned.
विद्याधराणां क्रीडार्थं पृथक्पृथङ्निवेशिताः
For the pleasure of the Vidyādharas, separate areas have been allotted.