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.
उदयादित्यसंकाशो विभावसुसमद्युतिः
He shone with the radiance of the rising sun, brilliant like fire.
गतो ददर्श तं रौद्रं पिशाचं च भयावहम्
He went and saw that fierce and terrifying piśāca.
दृष्ट्वा तं शकटारूढं ब्राह्मणं शाकटायनम् 5.2.68.
Seeing Śākaṭāyana, the Brāhmaṇa, riding on a cart,
तथारूपः पिशाचस्तु कर्णाभ्यां बधिरीकृतः तं धावंतं समालोक्य पिशाचं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्
That piśāca, in such a form, was made deaf in both ears; seeing him running, the Brāhmaṇa spoke to the piśāca.
पिशाच त्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे
O piśāca, you appear frightened and are seen to be hurrying.
पिशाच उवाच शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयंकरम्
The piśāca said: Hearing the loud and terrifying sound of this great cart,
ब्राह्मण उवाच पिशाचानां बलिष्ठाश्च श्रूयंते ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
The Brahmin said: Among the Piśācas, the Brahmarākṣasas are known to be the most powerful.
पिशाच उवाच दुःखं हि मृत्युः सर्वेषां जीवितं च सुदुर्ल्लभम्
The Piśāca said: Truly, death is suffering for all, and life is exceedingly difficult to obtain.
पैशाची कुत्सिता योनिः पापिनामेव जायते
The Piśāca birth is a vile womb, and it arises only for the sinful.
तस्माज्जीवितुमिच्छामि प्रसीद ब्रह्मराक्षस
Therefore, I wish to live—be gracious, O Brahmarākṣasa.