नियतेनैव कालेन मानुषाणां च सर्वदा
At the appointed time, and always, for human beings—
आख्यास्ये तदुपायं च श्रूयतां सावधानतः
I shall declare that means; listen to it with full attention.
क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं क्षेत्रं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
Among all sacred places, that field is the highest, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation.
तत्राहं संभविष्यामि लोकानामनुकंपया
There I shall manifest, out of compassion for the worlds.
सोमेश्वरस्य देवस्य पश्चिमे स्थानमुत्तमम्
In the westernmost and supreme abode of the god Someśvara—
सर्वदा दर्शनं तत्र मया सार्द्धं भविष्यति 5.2.67.
There, at all times, my presence will be seen together with me.
इह यावत्फलं तस्माद्दास्यामि ह्यधिकं ततः आकाशादुत्थितां दिव्यां मनःप्रह्रादकारिकाम्
Whatever fruit is gained here, I shall grant even greater than that: a divine, mind-delighting reward arising from the sky.
गता वनं महाकालं संस्मरन्तो महेश्वरम्
They went to the great forest, remembering Maheśvara.
स्नात्वा शिप्राजले पुण्ये यावत्पश्यन्ति भास्करम्
Having bathed in the holy waters of the Śiprā, as long as they beheld the sun—
अथ ते हर्षिताः प्रोचुः केदारोऽयं न संशयः
Then, delighted, they said: 'This is surely Kedāra, without doubt.'
ततस्ते पूजयामासुः पुष्पैर्नानाविधैस्तथा
Then they worshipped with flowers of many kinds, likewise.
दुर्लभोऽतिवरो दत्तः कैलासे स्थानमुत्तमम्
A rare and supreme boon was granted: the highest place on Kailāsa.
अतोऽहं त्रिदशैः प्रोक्तः केदारेश्वरना मतः
Therefore, among the gods, I am called by the name Kedāreśvara.
इहागत्य नरा ये च त्वां पश्यंति सुभक्तितः
Those men who come here and behold you with true devotion—
हिमाद्रौ हिमनाथस्य यात्रायाः प्रत्यहं फलम्
The daily fruit of pilgrimage to Hima-nātha on the Himalaya—
ब्रह्महा वा सुरापो वा स्ते यी वा गुरुतल्पगः 5.2.67.
Whether a slayer of a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, or one who has violated the teacher’s bed—
सोऽपि याति परं स्थानं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् तत्फलं समवाप्नोति केदारेश्वरदर्शनात्
Even he attains the supreme state, free from return; that fruit is obtained by the sight of Kedāreśvara.
ते नराः पशवो लोके तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम्
Those men are like beasts in the world; their birth is in vain.
कौमारे यौवने बाल्ये वार्द्धके यदुपार्जितम्
Whatever is acquired in childhood, youth, adolescence, or old age,
हिमालयकृता यात्रा तस्याः प्रोक्तं च यत्फलम्
The pilgrimage to the Himalayas and the fruit declared for it,
इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा देवि देवैः प्रणतिपूर्वकम्
Thus addressed by the gods, O Devi, with reverence, I was spoken to at that time.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
This, O Devi, has been told to you—the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्ये केदारेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-seventh chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Kedāreśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avanti Khanda of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
शृणु देवि प्रयत्नेन दर्शनात्पापनाशनम्
Listen, O Devi, with attention: the mere sight destroys sin.
आदौ कलियुगे देवि शूद्रो बहुधनोऽभवत्
At the beginning of the Kali Yuga, O Devi, a Śūdra became very wealthy.
अब्रह्मण्यो नृशंसश्च कदर्यो निरपत्रपः
He was irreligious, cruel, miserly, and shameless.
त्रिवर्गहंता चान्येषामात्मकामानुवर्त्तकः
He destroyed the three aims of life for others and followed only his own desires.
मरुदेशे पिशाचोऽभून्नग्नो दीनो भयावहः
In the desert region, he became a piśāca—naked, miserable, and terrifying.
बहवो मर्द्दितास्तेन पिशाचा बलवत्तराः
Many piśācas, stronger than others, were crushed by him.
अथ तेनैव मार्गेण कदाचिच्छाकटायनः
Then, by that same path, once, Śākaṭāyana came.