माहात्म्यं सर्वपापानां सद्यो नाशनकारकम् रुद्रशीर्षस्य माहात्म्यं तस्माच्छ्रोतव्यमादरात्
The greatness of Rudraśīrṣa is the immediate destroyer of all sins; therefore, its greatness should be heard with reverence.
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये रुद्रशीर्ष (जागेश्वर )माहात्म्यवर्णनंनामाष्टसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventy-eighth chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of Rudraśīrṣa (Jāgeśvara),' in the section on the greatness of the Śrīhāṭakeśvara field, in the sixth Nāgara section of the eighty-two-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
लिंगमस्ति सुविख्यातं सर्वपातकनाशनम्
There is a liṅga, well-known, which destroys all sins.
यमाराध्य च तैः पूर्वं शक्रामर्षसमन्वितैः
Having worshipped it formerly by those filled with the anger of Indra and the immortals—
प्रकोपो वालखिल्यानां संजज्ञे गरुडः कथम्
How did the wrath of the Vālakhilyas arise? How did Garuḍa come about?
चकार विधिवद्यज्ञं संपूर्णवरदक्षिणम्
He performed a sacrifice according to rule, complete with the best gifts.
ततः शक्रादयो देवाः सहायार्थं निमंत्रिताः
Then the gods, beginning with Indra, were invited for assistance.
तथा वेदविदो विप्रा यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणाः
Likewise, learned Brāhmaṇas, skilled in Vedic rites and sacrifices, were invited.
अथ ते वालखिल्याख्या मुनयः संशितव्रताः प्रस्थिता यज्ञवाटं तं भारार्ताः क्लेशसंयुताः
Then those sages called Vālakhilyas, firm in their vows, set out for the sacrificial enclosure, burdened and afflicted with hardship.
अथ तेषां समस्तानां मार्गे गोष्पदमागतम्
Then, on the path of all of them, a cow’s hoofprint appeared.
ततस्तरीतु कामास्ते क्लिश्यमाना इतस्ततः
Then, those desires, tormented here and there,
गच्छता तेन मार्गेण मखे दक्षप्रजापतेः जगामाथ समुल्लंघ्य ऐश्वर्यमदगर्वितः॥६.७९.
while he was going along that path to the sacrifice of Daksha Prajapati, he proceeded, crossing over, intoxicated with the pride of power.
निवृत्य स्वाश्रमं गत्वा चक्रुर्मंत्रं सनिश्चयम्
Turning back, they went to their own hermitage and made a firm decision with a mantra.
शाक्रं पदं समासाद्य यस्मादेतेन पाप्मना
Having reached the seat of Indra, from which, by this sinner,
अन्यः शक्रः प्रकर्तव्यो मंत्रवीर्यसमुद्भवः
another Indra must be created, arising from the power of mantra.
येन व्यापाद्यते तेन शक्रोऽयं मदगर्वितः
By whom this Indra, intoxicated with pride, will be destroyed.
ततस्ते शुचयो भूत्वा स्कंदसूक्तेन पावकम्
Then, having become pure, they invoked Fire with the Skanda hymn.
गर्भोपनिषदेनैव नीलरुद्रैर्द्विजोत्तमाः
With the Garbhopanishad and by the blue Rudras, O best of twice-born,
निधाय कलशं मध्ये मंडलस्योदकावृतम्
placing a water-filled pot in the center of the altar,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रः प्रपश्यति सुदारुणान्
Meanwhile, Indra beheld extremely dreadful omens.
वामो बाहुश्च नेत्रं च मुहुः स्फुरति चास्य वै
His left arm and eye kept twitching repeatedly.
शिरोहीनां तथा छायां गगने भास्करद्वयम् ६.७९.
He saw a headless shadow and two suns in the sky.
न च मंदं न चाकाशे संस्थितां स्वर्धुनीं हरिः
Nor did Hari see the slow-flowing heavenly river established in the sky.
मुक्तकेशीं विवस्त्रां च कृष्णदंतां भयानकाम्
He saw a woman with loose hair, unclothed, with black teeth, terrifying.
पप्रच्छ भयसंत्रस्तः किमेतदिति मे गुरो
Frightened with fear, he asked, 'What is this, O my teacher?'
किं मे भविष्यति प्राज्ञ विनाशः सांप्रतं वद
'What will happen to me, O wise one? Tell me now if destruction awaits.'
उल्लंघिताः स्थिता मार्गे गोष्पदं तर्त्तुमिच्छवः
Those who have crossed over and stand on the path, wishing to cross a cow's hoofprint,
तैरेवाथर्वणैर्मंत्रैस्त्वकृतेऽस्ति शचीपते
By those Atharvan mantras alone, O lord of Shachi, it is not for your sake.
युष्माकं सुविनाशाय सर्वदेवाधिनायकः
The lord of all the gods seeks your utter destruction.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो भयान्वितः
Hearing those words, Indra, the thousand-eyed, was seized with fear.