तत्र कायमनुप्राप्ता मम शिष्या ममो पमाः
There, my disciples, equal to myself, have attained bodily form.
क्षेत्रस्य दक्षिणे तस्य विद्यते लिंगमुत्तमम्
On the southern side of that field, there exists a most excellent liṅga.
प्रसादात्तस्य लिंगस्य कायान्प्राप्स्यंत्यमी सुराः
By the grace of that liṅga, these gods will obtain bodies.
मुदिता ब्रह्मणा सार्द्धं यत्र तल्लिंगमुत्तमम्
Joyful, together with Brahmā, they are where that most excellent liṅga is.
पुनस्ते तादृशा जातास्तुषिता यादृशाऽभवन् समीहितप्रदो नित्यं ख्यातो देवो भविष्यति
Again, those who are born in such a way, satisfied as they were, the god will always be known as the fulfiller of desires.
ये गत्वा दक्षिणामाशां देवं कायावरोहणम्
Those who, having gone to the southern direction, approach the god Kāyāvarohaṇa—
जन्मकोटिसहस्रैस्तु यत्पापं समुपार्जितम्
Whatever sin accumulated over thousands of millions of births—
स्वकर्मणा गता ये च नरके पितरो गणाः
And the groups of ancestors who, by their own actions, have gone to hell—
ये पश्यंति प्रसंगेन देवं कायारोहणम्
Those who see, even incidentally, the god Kāyārohaṇa—
स्पर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य पापिनोपि हि ये नराः ५.२.८२.
Even sinful men, by touching that liṅga—
शाठ्येन पूजितो देवः कायावरोहणेश्वरः
If the god Kāyāvarohaṇeśvara is worshipped with hypocrisy—
द्वादश्यां ये प्रपश्यंति स्नात्वा कायावरोहणम्
Those who, having bathed, see Kāyāvarohaṇa on the twelfth day—
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, thus I have told you the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्य उमामहेश्वरसंवादे कायावरोहणेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्ण नंनाम द्वयशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the fifth Avanti division, in the greatness of the eighty-four liṅgas, in the dialogue of Umā and Maheśvara, this is the eighty-second chapter named 'The Description of the Greatness of Kāyāvarohaṇeśvara'.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः
By merely hearing of him, one is freed from all sins.
आदिकल्पे महादेवि लोकानामनुकम्पया
In the beginning of the age, O great goddess, out of compassion for the worlds—
तेषां मध्ये बिल्ववृक्षः श्रीवृक्ष इति गीयते
Among them, the bilva tree is sung as the auspicious tree.
उपविष्टस्तदा दृष्टो ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा
At that time, he was seen seated by Brahmā, the creator of the worlds.
भक्षयत्यतिसंहृष्टो हद्यानि च मृदूनि च
He eats, exceedingly delighted, both the tender and the soft portions.
खङ्गी किरीटमाली च कुण्डली कवची तथा
He is armed with a sword, adorned with a crown and garlands, wearing earrings and armor as well.
ब्रह्मणा च कृतं नाम बिल्व इत्यभिविश्रुतम्
And the name given by Brahmā, renowned everywhere, is 'Bilva.'
त्रिविष्टपस्य भूमिस्थः सखाभूतो मम प्रियः
Dwelling on earth but belonging to the heavenly realm, he became my dear friend.
यस्याः प्रभावतः शस्त्रं रणे न प्रभविष्यति
By her power, no weapon in battle will be effective.
तत्स्यां पृथिव्यां राजाहं नान्यथा रोचते मम ५.२.८३.
On that earth, I wish to be king; otherwise, it does not please me.
इंद्र उवाच एवं भवतु भद्रं ते भव राजा प्रजाहितः
Indra said: So be it—may good fortune be yours. Be a king devoted to the welfare of your people.
स एवमुक्तस्तेजस्वी बिल्वो राजा बभूव ह
Thus addressed, the radiant Bilva indeed became king.
सखा बभूव बिल्वस्य तस्य विप्रर्षिसत्तमः
The best among sage-seers became Bilva's friend.
चक्रे कथा विचित्रार्थाः प्रीयमाणः पुनःपुनः
He repeatedly recounted stories of wondrous meaning, rejoicing in them.
दानं प्रधानं तीर्थं तु बिल्वेनोक्तं पुनःपुनः
Bilva repeatedly declared that giving gifts and visiting holy places are foremost.
बिल्व उवाच प्राप्यते द्विजशार्दूल कथं ब्रह्म प्रशंसससि
Bilva said: How, O best of twice-born, is Brahman attained, which you praise?