महीनगरके लिंगं पातालात्सुमनोहरम्
In the great city, the liṅga, beautiful and delightful, emerged from the netherworld.
नमस्ते भगवन्रुद्र भास्करामिततेजसे
Salutations to you, O Lord Rudra, whose radiance equals that of the sun.
शर्वाय क्षितिरूपाय सदा सुरभिणे नमः
Salutations to Śarva, who is of the form of the earth, ever auspicious.
पशूनां पतये चापि पावकायातितेजसे
And to the Lord of cattle, to Pāvaka of surpassing brilliance.
महादेवाय सोमाय अमृताय नमोऽस्तु ते
Homage to Mahādeva, to Soma, to the immortal one—salutations to you.
इत्येवं नामभिर्दिव्यैः स्तव एष उदीरितः
Thus, with these divine names, this hymn has been proclaimed.
हाटकेश्वरलिंगस्य नित्यं च प्रयतो नरः
Whoever, with devotion, always worships the liṅga of Hāṭakeśvara—
हाटकेश्वरलिंगं च प्रयतो यः स्मरेदपि
Or even remembers the Hāṭakeśvara liṅga with devotion—
एवंविधानि तीर्थानि महीसागरसंगमे
Such sacred places are at the confluence of the earth and the ocean.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां प्रथमे माहेश्वरखण्डे कौमारिकाखण्डे स्तम्भतीर्थमाहात्म्ये सोमनाथवृत्तांतवर्णनंनामाष्टचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter, entitled 'The Account of Somanātha,' in the section on the glory of Stambhatīrtha, in the Kaumārikā section of the Māheśvara division, in the first book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
श्रुत्वा तव मुखांभोजाद्भृशं मे हृष्यते मनः
Hearing from your lotus mouth, my mind is greatly delighted.
महीनगरकस्यापि स्थापितस्य त्वया मुने
Even of Mahīnagara, which was established by you, O sage—
तानि वक्ष्यामि यत्रास्ते जया दित्यो रविः प्रभुः
I shall tell you of those places where Jayāditya, the radiant lord, resides.
जयादित्यस्य यो नाम कीर्तयेदिह मानवः
Whoever here recites the name of Jayāditya—
यस्य संदर्शनादेव कल्याणैरपि पूर्यते
By merely seeing him, one is filled with auspicious blessings.
तस्य देवस्य चोत्पत्तिं शृणु पार्थ वदामि ते
Hear now, Pārtha, of the origin of that god; I shall tell you.
अहं संस्थाप्य संस्थानमेतत्कालेन केनचित्
I established this place at a certain time.
स मां प्रणतमासीनमभ्यर्च्यार्घेण भास्करः
The Sun, having worshipped me as I sat in devotion, offered arghya.
कुत आगम्यते विप्र क्व च वा प्रतिगम्यते
From where do you come, O brāhmaṇa, and where will you go?
भारते विहृतः खण्डे महीनगरकादपि 1.2.49.
I have wandered in the land of Bhārata, even from Mahīnagara.
तेषां गुणान्मम ब्रूहि किंगुणा ननु ते द्विजाः
Tell me of their virtues—what qualities do they possess? Are they not indeed Brahmins?
यदि तान्भोः प्रशंसामि स्वीयान्स्तौतीति वाच्यता
If I praise them, it may be said that I am extolling my own kind.
अथवा पारमाहात्म्ये सति तेषां महात्मनाम्
Or, if they possess supreme greatness, those noble souls—
मदर्चितद्विजेंद्राणां यदि स्याच्छ्रवणेप्सुता
If there is a desire to hear about those Brahmin chiefs who have worshipped me,
इति श्रुत्वा मम वचो रविरासीत्सुविस्मितः
Hearing my words, Ravi was utterly astonished.
सोऽथ विप्रतनुं कृत्वा मां विसर्ज्यैव भास्करः
Then, having assumed the form of a Brahmin and leaving me, Bhāskara departed.
जटां त्रिषवणस्नानपिंगलां धारयन्नथ
He wore matted hair, tawny from thrice-daily bathing.
ततो हारीतप्रमुखाः प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनाः
Then, led by Hārīta, their eyes blossoming with delight—
नमस्कृत्य द्विजाग्र्यं ते प्रहर्षादिदमब्रुवन् ।।1.2.49.
They bowed to the foremost Brahmin and, joyful, spoke these words.
अद्य नो दिवसः पुण्यः स्थानमद्योत्तमं त्विदम्
Today is a holy day for us; this place is now truly excellent.