शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्द्दश्यां जागरं तस्य चाग्रतः
On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight, one should keep vigil before it.
पिंडनिर्वापणं तत्र यः करोति समाहितः
Whoever, with concentration, performs the offering of rice-balls there,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडे पार्थेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रयस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-third chapter named 'The Description of the Glory of Partheshvara,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhasa book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
यत्र सन्निहितो नित्यं स्वयं विष्णुर्महीपते कस्मिन्काले मुने ब्रूहि सर्वं विस्तरतो मम
Where Vishnu himself is always present, O king, tell me everything in detail, O sage, about the time and place.
चंद्रार्कपवने नष्टे ज्योतिषि प्रलयं गते
When the light of the moon, sun, and wind was lost, and dissolution had come,
ततो युगसहस्रांते विबुद्धः कमलासनः
Then, at the end of a thousand ages, the lotus-seated one awoke.
भ्रमंश्चापि चतुर्वक्त्रो यावत्पश्यति दूरतः
And the four-faced one wandered, until he saw from afar.
तं चोवाच चतुर्वक्त्रः कस्त्वं केन विनिर्मितः
The four-faced one spoke to him: 'Who are you, and by whom were you created?'
तमुवाचाथ गोविंदः प्रहसञ्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा
Then Govinda replied, smiling with gentle words,
अहमाद्यः पुमानेको मया सृष्टो भवानपि
I am the original, sole man; you too were created by me.
अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं भर्त्सयंश्च पुनःपुनः
He spoke harsh words, repeatedly rebuking him.
सृष्टस्त्वं हि मया मूढ प्रथमोऽहमसंशयम् 7.3.34.
You were indeed created by me, fool; I am the first, without doubt.
एवं विवदमानौ तौ मिथो राजन्महाद्युती
Thus, O King, those two of great splendor argued with each other.
मुष्टिभिर्बाहुभिश्चैव नखैर्दंतैर्विकर्षणैः
With fists, arms, nails, teeth, and by pulling, they fought.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तयोर्मध्ये नृपोत्तम
Then, at the end of a thousand years, between those two, O best of kings—
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke.
एतन्माहेश्वरं लिंगं योऽस्य चांते गमिष्यति
Whoever among you reaches the end of this great liṅga of Maheśvara—
अधोभागं व्रजत्वेक एकश्चोर्द्ध्वं ममाज्ञया
Let one go downward and one upward, by my command.
विदार्य वसुधां कृष्णोऽप्यधस्तात्सत्वरं गतः तावत्कालाग्निरुद्रस्तु दृष्टस्तेन महात्मना
Splitting the earth, Kṛṣṇa quickly went below; there, that great soul saw Kālāgni Rudra.
गंतुमिच्छंस्ततोऽधस्ताद्यावद्वेगं करोति सः
Desiring to go further downward, he moved with all his speed.
ततो मूर्छाभिसंतप्तो दह्यमानोऽद्भुताग्निना
Then, tormented by faintness, burning from that wondrous fire—
तथा लिंगं समासाद्य भक्त्या पूजा कृता ततः 7.3.34.
Thus, having reached the liṅga, he performed worship there with devotion.
ब्रह्माऽपि व्योममार्गेण गतो हंसविमानतः
Brahmā too went by the path of the sky, in his swan-chariot.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते केतकीं सोऽप्यपश्यत
Then, at the end of a thousand years, he saw the ketakī flower.
क्व त्वया गम्यते ब्रह्मन्निरालंबे महापथि
Where are you going, O Brahmā, on this endless great path?
लिंगस्यास्य हि पर्यंतं यो लभिष्यति चावयोः
Whoever among us attains the end of this liṅga—
स ज्यायानितरो हीनो ह्येतदुक्तं पिनाकिना
He is the greater; the other is lesser—so has Pinākin said.
लब्ध्वा लिंगस्य पर्यंतं यास्यामि क्षितिमंडले
Having found the end of the liṅga, I will return to the earth.
व्यर्थश्रमोऽसि लोकेश नांतो लिंगस्य विद्यते
Your effort is in vain, O Lord of the world; there is no end to the liṅga.
लिंगमूर्ध्नः पतंत्या मे कालो जातो महाद्युते
As I fell from the summit of the liṅga, O one of great splendor, time passed.