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?
कपिल उवाच प्रवर्त्तंते क्रिया वेदाद्वेदमूलमिदं जगत्
Kapila said: All rites proceed from the Veda; this world has the Veda as its root.
बिल्व उवाच संसारे पार्थिवाः श्रेष्ठाः समर्था लोकपालने
Bilva said: In the world, kings are the foremost, capable of protecting the people.
पितरः पार्थिवानां तु किं त्वं बिल्व न मन्यसे
Are not the ancestors of kings important to you, O Bilva?
एवं कौतूहले जाते कपिलो द्विजसत्तमः ५.२.८३.
When such curiosity arose, Kapila, the best of Brahmins—
वज्रेण स द्विधा छिन्नः कपिलो ब्रह्मविद्यया
Kapila, with the knowledge of Brahman, was split in two by the thunderbolt.
स्तुतोऽहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैः सम्यगाराधितो ह्यहम्
I have been praised with various hymns and have been properly worshipped.
द्विजः समागतो बिल्वं पुनः सख्यमभूत्तयोः
The twice-born arrived; Bilva and he became friends once more.
वामपादेन चाप्येनं बिल्वो विप्रमताडयत्
Then Bilva struck the Brahmin with his left foot.
न मृतिं न व्यथां तस्य तद्वज्रमकरोत्पुनः
That blow, like a thunderbolt, caused him neither death nor pain.
नारायणमथासाद्य प्रार्थयामास चेप्सितम् प्रोवाच प्रणतो विष्णुमिदं देवि महामनाः
Then, approaching Nārāyaṇa, he earnestly sought his desire, and, bowing, the noble goddess spoke these words to Viṣṇu: