तंदुलादिपरिक्षेपैः प्रापिताः क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्
Through offerings of rice and the like, they reached the supreme field.
चरिष्यंतोऽत्र परितो मुक्तिमंडपमुत्तमम्
Wandering about there, they approached the excellent pavilion of liberation.
प्रहासान्मत्कथालापाँल्लाभमोहविवर्जितान्
Free from gain and delusion, through laughter and conversation about me,
मन्नामोच्चारणपरान्मत्कथार्पितसुश्रुतीन्
Devoted to uttering my name, with ears attentive to stories dedicated to me,
मानयामासुरथ तान्कुक्कुटान्साधुवर्त्मनः क्रमेणाहारमाकुंच्य प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यंति चात्र वै
Then they honored those hens who followed the virtuous path; gradually reducing their food, they will indeed give up their lives here.
पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां विष्णो ते मदनुग्रहात्
O Vishnu, by my grace, as all the worlds look on,
निर्विश्य सुचिरं कालं दिव्यान्भोगाननुत्तमान्
Having enjoyed supreme divine pleasures for a long time,
ततो लोकास्तददारभ्य कथयिष्यंति सर्वतः
From then on, people everywhere will recount those worlds.
चरित्रमपि वै तेषां ये स्मरिष्यंति मानवाः
Even those who remember their deeds, O men, shall indeed be blessed.
इति यावत्कथां शंभुर्भविष्यामग्रतो हरेः 4.2.98.
Thus, Śaṃbhu recited the tale of what will happen before Hari.
अथनंदिनमाहूय देवदेव उमाधवः
Then, summoning Nandin, the Lord of gods, the husband of Umā,
अथ नंदी समागत्य प्रोवाच वृषभध्वजम्
Thereupon, Nandin approached and spoke to the Bull-bannered One.
अथ स्मित्वाब्रवीच्छंभुः सिद्धं नस्तु समीहितम्
Then Śaṃbhu, having smiled, said: 'Our intention has been accomplished.'
ब्रह्मणा हरिणा सार्धं ततोऽगाद्रंगमंडपम् स्कंद उवाच श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं परमानंदकारणम्
Together with Brahmā and Hari, he then went to the assembly pavilion. Skanda said: 'Having heard this sacred chapter, which is the cause of supreme bliss—'
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीति साहस्र्यां संहितायां चतुर्थे काशीखंड उत्तरार्धे मुक्तिमंडपगमनं नामाष्टनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the eighty-ninth chapter, entitled 'The Ascent to the Pavilion of Liberation,' in the Uttarārdha of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa, in the eighty-eight-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
शृणु सूत यथा प्रोक्तं कुंभजे शरजन्मना
O Sūta, listen to what was spoken by the lotus-born to the one born of the jar.
अगस्त्य उवाच निर्गत्य देवो देवेंद्रैः सहितः किं चकार ह
Agastya said: 'Having departed, what did the god do together with the lords of the gods?'
स्कंद उवाच शृंगारमंडपं प्राप्य यच्चकार वदामि तत्
Skanda said: 'Having reached the Pavilion of Beauty, I shall tell you what he did.'
प्राङ्मुखस्तूपविश्येशः सहास्माभिः सहेशया
Facing east, the Lord sat down together with us and with the Lady.
वीज्यमानो महेंद्रेण ऋषिभिः परितो वृतः
He was fanned by Mahendra and surrounded on all sides by sages.
उदायुधैः सेव्यमानश्चावसन्मानभूरिभिः
He was served by those bearing noble weapons and honored with abundant respect.
दर्शयामास देवेशो लिंगं पश्यत पश्यत
The Lord of gods showed the liṅga, saying, 'Behold, behold!'
इदमेव हि मे रूपं स्थावरं चाति सिद्धिदम्
'Indeed, this is my very form—immovable and bestowing great success.'
जितेंद्रियास्तपोनिष्ठाः पंचार्थज्ञाननिर्मलाः
Those who have conquered their senses, are devoted to austerity, and pure in the knowledge of the five principles—
लिंगार्चनरता नित्यमनन्येंद्रियमानसाः 4.2.99.
Ever intent on the worship of the liṅga, with mind and senses fixed on nothing else—
कंदमूलफलाहाराः परतत्त्वार्पितेक्षणाः
Subsisting on bulbs, roots, and fruits, their gaze fixed on the Supreme Reality—
निरीहा निष्प्रपंचाश्च निरातंका निरामयाः
Free from desire, devoid of worldly illusion, without fear, and untouched by disease.
निस्तीर्णोदग्रसंसारा निर्विकल्पा निरेनसः
Having crossed the turbulent ocean of worldly existence, without doubt, and free from sin.
सदैव मे महाप्रीता मत्पुत्रा मत्स्वरूपिणः
Always, my beloved children, who are of my own form, remain dear to me.
अर्चितेष्वेष्वहं प्रीतो भविष्यामि न संशयः
When these are worshipped, I am pleased—there is no doubt about it.