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.
कोटिभोज्यफलं सम्यगेकैक परिसंख्यया
The fruit of offering food is counted in the millions, each one precisely reckoned.
सर्वेषां सर्वसिद्धीनां कर्ता भक्तिजुषामिह
Here, I am the giver of all accomplishments to those who are devoted.
आनंदकानने चात्र स्वैरं तिष्ठामि देवताः
In this forest of bliss, O gods, I dwell freely.
स्थास्यामि लिंगरूपेण चिंतितार्थफलप्रदः तानि सर्वाणि चायांति द्रष्टुं लिंगमिदं सदा
I shall remain in the form of the liṅga, granting the fruits of desired aims; all come here always to behold this liṅga.
अहं सर्वेषु लिंगेषु तिष्ठा्म्येव न संशयः 4.2.99.
I abide in every liṅga, without any doubt.
येन लिंगमिदं दृष्टं श्रद्धया शुद्धचक्षुषा
Whoever sees this liṅga with faith and pure vision—
श्रवणादस्य लिंगस्य पातकं जन्मसंचितम्
By hearing about this liṅga, the accumulated sins from birth are destroyed.
स्मरणादस्य लिंगस्य पापं जन्मद्वयार्जितम्
By remembering this liṅga, the sins acquired over two births are removed.
एतल्लिंगं समुद्दिश्य गृहान्निष्क्रमणक्षणात्
Upon leaving one's house with this liṅga in mind—
दर्शनादस्य लिंगस्य हयमेधशतोद्भवम्
By seeing this liṅga, one attains the merit equal to a hundred horse sacrifices.