Skanda Purana

तत्त्वसर्गं भूतसर्गं भावसर्गं तथैव च

the creation of principles, the creation of elements, and likewise the creation of beings—

यत्किंचिद्वस्तुजातं हि तत्सर्वमचरं चरम्

whatever collection of things there may be, all of that, both moving and unmoving—

अथेशः प्राह ब्रह्माणं त्वया दृष्टं यथातथम्

then the Lord said to Brahmā: 'You have seen everything just as it is.'

कर्ताहमनुकर्ता त्वं लोकानां स्थितिकारणे 5.1.4.

'I am the creator; you are the imitator, for the purpose of maintaining the worlds.'

इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्

Thus addressed by the God of gods, Brahmā spoke these words:

त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रजासर्गं कुर्वतो मे महेश्वर

'By your grace, O great Lord, I am able to create beings.'

महे३वर उवाच ध्यायतः पुत्रकामस्य स्रष्टु कामस्य ते यतः

Maheśvara said: 'Because you, desiring sons and wishing to create, were meditating—'

पुत्रत्वं प्राप्य हीशस्ते छेत्स्यामि पंचमं शिरः

'Having attained sonship, O Lord, I shall cut off your fifth head.'

कीर्तयस्व सखा धन्यः स नः पूज्यो भविष्यति

'Proclaim him as a blessed friend; he will become worthy of our worship.'

अथापश्यत्ततो ब्रह्मा तेजसा हरिमच्युतम्

Then Brahmā beheld Hari, the infallible one, radiant with splendor.

महेश्वरस्य तेजोर्ध्वं संतं नारायणं प्रभुम्

He saw Nārāyaṇa, the Lord, existing above the radiance of Maheśvara.

अंगुल्या संस्पृशन्देवो ब्रह्माणमब्रवीद्वचः

Touching Brahmā with his finger, the god spoke these words:

भविता लोकरक्षार्थं श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्

'For the protection of the worlds, the best among all archers will be born.'

इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्देवस्तमग्निं पाणिनाऽ ग्रहीत् 5.1.4.

Having said this, the blessed god took that fire in his hand.

इति सत्कृत्य सततं नरं चैव महेश्वरः

Thus, Maheśvara always honored that man as well.

अथाब्रवीत्ततो ब्रह्मा अग्निं तं तु युगक्षये

Then Brahmā spoke to that fire at the end of the age:

भृगुश्चैवांगिराः पुत्रौ भवितारौ न संशयः

'Bhṛgu and Aṅgirās will indeed be your sons, without doubt.'

द्विधा संभज्य तेनाग्निं सृष्टेर्यज्ञो भविष्यति

By dividing that fire into two, the sacrifice of creation will take place.

ब्रह्मणाऽग्नी समेतौ तु ब्रह्माणमनुनोदितौ

The two fires, united by Brahmā, were set in motion by the command of Brahmā.

अतोऽश्वत्थे शमीगर्भे संयोगस्तत्र पठ्यते

Therefore, the union within the womb of the śamī tree and the aśvattha is described there.

तस्मात्सुतहितः श्रेष्ठश्चतुर्थ इति कथ्यते

Hence, the son who is beneficial and excellent is called the fourth.

एवं तु ब्रह्मणो वक्त्रं पञ्चमं समपद्यत

Thus, the fifth mouth of Brahmā came into being.

एतद्यो बुध्यते देव तेजःसर्गमनुत्तमम्

Whoever understands this supreme creation of the gods’ radiance—

एतद्योग्निसमुद्भवं पशुपतेर्माहात्म्यसंसूचकं वह्नेः साधुमतिः शृणोति सततं यः श्रद्धया भावितम्। यो व्यास द्विजदेवताप्रमुखतः संश्रावयेद्भक्तितः सोऽत्यर्थं भवभावितः शिवपुरे संपूज्यते दैवतैः ।। 5.1.4.

Whoever always listens with faith to this account of Agni’s origin, which hints at the greatness of Paśupati, and whoever, O Vyāsa, recites it with devotion before the foremost of twice-born and gods, he, deeply absorbed in the world, is greatly honored by the gods in the city of Śiva.

किं कृतं ब्रह्मणा तत्र प्रायश्चित्तं च कर्मणाम्

What was done there by Brahmā, and what expiation was performed for those acts?

जनार्दनेन किं कर्म शंकरेण च यन्मुने

What action was performed by Janārdana and by Śaṅkara, O sage?

शस्तैः कुशसमिद्भिश्च यथोक्तं हरिणा पुरा

With excellent kuśa grass and kindling, as formerly prescribed by Hari—

बदर्याश्रममासाद्य नरनारायणावृषी

Having reached the hermitage at Badarī, the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa—

कपालपाणिर्देवेशः पर्यटन्वसुधामिमाम्

The Lord of the gods, holding a skull in his hand, wandered this earth.