कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां ये पश्यंति यशस्विनि
On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, those who behold, O illustrious one,
किं दानैः किं तपोभिश्च किं यज्ञैर्बहुदक्षिणैः
What need is there for gifts, for austerities, or for many sacrifices with abundant offerings?
आजन्म च कृतं पापं स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु
Any sin committed from birth, whether small or great,
इत्येवं चतुराशीतिः संख्याता ईश्वरास्तव
Thus, eighty-four have been enumerated, O Lord.
य एतेषां देवि यात्रां प्रतिलोमानुलोमतः
Whoever, O Goddess, undertakes the pilgrimage to these, in reverse or direct order,
यश्चापि पूजयेत्तत्र लिंगं भक्त्या तु मानवः
And whoever worships the liṅga there with devotion, O mortal,
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पाप नाशनः ५.२.८४.
This, O Goddess, has been told to you—the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीतिलिङ्गमाहात्म्य उमामहेश्वरसंवाद उत्तरेश्वरलिंगमाहात्म्यवर्णनपूर्वक चतुरशीतिलिंगमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुरशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the eighty-fourth chapter, named 'The Greatness of the Eighty-Four Liṅgas,' describing the greatness of Uttareśvara liṅga, in the dialogue between Umā and Maheśvara, in the fifth Avanti section of the eighty-four-thousand verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
श्रीगणेशाय नमः अथ कार्त्तिकमासमाहात्म्यप्रारम्भः देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
Salutations to Śrī Gaṇeśa. Now begins the account of the greatness of the month of Kārttika. One should invoke victory and worship the Goddess Sarasvatī.
भूयोऽन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामः कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम्
We wish to hear again about the glory of Kārttika.
कलौ कलुषचित्तानां नराणां पापकर्मणाम्
In the age of Kali, among men with impure minds and sinful deeds,
को धर्मः सर्वधर्माणामधिको मोक्षसाधकः
Which dharma among all dharmas is supreme and leads to liberation?
नारदो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो ब्रह्माणं तु जगद्गुरुम्
Nārada, the son of Brahmā, approached Brahmā, the teacher of the universe.
तथैव सत्यभामा च श्रीकृष्णं जगदीश्वरम्
In the same way, Satyabhāmā approached Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the universe.
वालखिल्यैश्च ऋषिभिर्यदुक्तमृषिसंसदि
And what was spoken by the Vālakhilya sages in the assembly of seers,
कैलासे शंकरेणैव कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम्
and the glory of Kārtikeya as told by Śaṅkara on Mount Kailāsa,
पृथुं प्रति नारदेन कथितं च महात्म्यकम्
and the greatness narrated by Nārada to Pṛthu,
एकदा नारदो योगी सत्यलोकमुपागतः 2.4.1.
Once, the yogi Nārada went to Satyaloka.
को वह्निर्दहते ब्रह्मंस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Which fire is able to burn Brahman? You, O Lord, are worthy to speak of this.
नाज्ञातं त्रिषु लोकेषु ब्रह्मांडांतर्गतस्य यत्
There is nothing within the three worlds, within the cosmic egg, that is unknown to you.
मासानां प्रवरो मासो देवानामुत्तमोत्तमः
Among months, one is the foremost; among the gods, the most excellent.
तीर्थं नारायणाख्यं हि त्रितयं दुर्लभं कलौ
The three sacred places named Nārāyaṇa are indeed rare in the Kali age.
वैष्णवान्ब्रूहि मे धर्मान्सर्वज्ञोऽसि पितामह
Tell me the Vaiṣṇava duties, for you are all-knowing, O Grandfather.
आदौ कार्तिकमाहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि मे प्रभो
First, you should tell me, O Lord, the greatness of the month of Kārtika.
गोपीचंदनमाहात्म्यं तुलस्याश्च तथा विभो व्रतारंभः कदा कार्यं उद्यापनविधिं तथा
Also, O mighty one, the greatness of Gopī-candana and of Tulasī, when to begin the vow, and the method of concluding it.
यत्किंचिद्वैष्णवं धर्मं तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Whatever Vaiṣṇava duty there is, you should tell me all of it.
राधादामोदरं स्मृत्वा प्रोवाच तनुजं प्रति
Remembering Rādhā and Dāmodara, he spoke to his son.
कथयामि न संदेहः कार्तिकस्य च वैभवम् ।। 2.4.1.
I will tell you, without doubt, the glory of Kārtika.
एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वे यज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः कार्तिकस्य तु मासस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्
Even if all sacred places and all sacrifices with proper gifts are on one side, they do not equal even a sixteenth part of the month of Kārtika.
एकतः पुष्करे वासः कुरुक्षेत्रे हिमालये
Even if one resides at Puṣkara, Kurukṣetra, or in the Himalayas on one side,