मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण राज्ञा चैव ययातिना
By Manu, the lord of men, and by King Yayāti as well,
अत्रिणा भृगुणा व्यास दत्तात्रेयेण धीमता
By Atri, Bhṛgu, Vyāsa, and the wise Dattātreya,
अत्र स्नानेन संप्राप्तं दशाश्वमेधिकं फलम्
By bathing here, the fruit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices is obtained.
दशानामश्वमेधानां फल प्राप्तं द्विजोत्तम
The fruit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices is attained, O best of twice-born.
दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा च तं देवं प्रागुक्तं लभते फलम्
By seeing and touching that deity previously mentioned, one attains the fruit.
अश्वं दद्याच्च विप्राय सुरूपं च गुणान्वितम्
One should give a horse to a brāhmaṇa, beautiful and endowed with good qualities.
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते
For as many thousands of years, one is honored in the world of Śiva.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये दशाश्वमेधमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Saṃhitā, in the fifth Avantya section, in the greatness of the Avantī field, the seventeenth chapter named 'Description of the Greatness of the Ten Aśvamedhas' [ends].
पूजां कृत्वा विधानेन सर्वसिद्धिफलं लभेत्
By performing worship according to the prescribed method, one attains the fruit of all accomplishments.
अणिमादिगुणान्सर्वान्गुटिकासिद्धिमंजनम् सर्वं तुष्टा प्रयच्छेत नात्र कार्या विचारणा
All the powers such as aṇimā, the perfection of magical pills and ointments—everything is granted when satisfied; there should be no doubt about this.
सुरामांसोपहारैश्च भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च पूजिता
When worshipped with offerings of liquor, meat, and various foods and eatables—
महानवम्यां यो देवीं महिषेण प्रपूजयेत्
Whoever worships the goddess with a buffalo on the great Navamī—
तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी
I wish to hear all this, O destroyer of all sins.
सनत्कुमार उवाच पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Sanatkumāra said: Formerly, at the beginning of the Kṛta Yuga, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds—
ततो भगवती रात्रिरुपतस्थे पितामहम्
Then the blessed Night stood before the Grandfather.
यत्कर्तव्यं त्वया देवि शृणु चार्थस्य निश्चयम्
O Goddess, hear what you must do, and the true meaning of the matter.
तारकोनाम दैत्येंद्रः सुरशत्रुरनिर्जितः
There is a demon king named Tāraka, unconquered enemy of the gods.
तस्माद्भद्रे महेशो वै जनयिष्यति चेद्वरम् 5.1.18.
Therefore, O auspicious one, if Mahesha grants the boon, he will beget a son.
शंकरम्याभवत्पत्नी सती दक्षसुता तु या
Shankara's wife was Sati, the daughter of Daksha.
भवित्री हिमशैलस्य दुहिता लोकपावनी
She will be born as the daughter of the snowy mountain, purifier of the worlds.
अतपद्धिमशैलस्य कंदरे सिद्धसेविते
In the cave of the snowy mountain, frequented by siddhas, she practiced austerity.
तस्मात्सुतप्ततपसोर्भविता यो महाप्रभुः
From her intense austerity, the great lord will be born.
जातमात्रा तु सा देवी स्वल्पसंज्ञैव भामिनी
As soon as she is born, the radiant goddess will have only slight awareness.
तयोः सुतप्ततपसोः संयोगः स्यात्सुयुक्तयोः
The union of those two, both deeply devoted to austerity, will be well-matched.
भवेत्तत्र सुराणां च कार्यार्थे विप्रमाचर
There, for the purpose of the gods, act according to the sage's instructions.
गर्भस्थानेऽथ तां मातः स्वेन रूपेण रंजय
Mother, in the womb, delight her with your own form.
हासयिष्यति कालीति ततः सा कुपिता सती
She will laugh, called Kālī, and then Sati will become angry.
जनयिष्यति यं शर्वादिंदुवज्ज्योतिमंड लम् 5.1.18.
She will give birth to Sharva, the lord, radiant as the moon and sun.
त्वयापि दानवा देवि हंतव्या लोकदुर्जयाः
You too, O Goddess, must slay the demons who are unconquerable in the worlds.
तत्संगमेन तावत्त्वं दैत्यान्हंतुं भविष्यसि
By union with her, you will become able to destroy the demons.