तं दृष्ट्वोत्थापयामासुर्मुनयो नयसंयुतम्
Seeing him, the sages, endowed with wisdom, raised him up.
तान्प्राह प्रणतो भूत्वा तपसा दीप्ततेजसः
Having bowed down, he addressed them—those sages blazing with ascetic power:
दीनोऽहमुद्धृतः सर्वैर्मग्नोऽहं पापकर्दमे
I am wretched, lifted up by all of you; I was sunk in the mire of sin.
वल्मीकेऽस्मिन्स्थितः पुत्र यतस्त्वमेकचित्ततः
O son, since you remained with single-pointed mind in this termite mound—
इत्युक्त्वा मुनयो जग्मुः स्वां दिशां तपसान्विताः कुशस्थल्यामथागम्य समाराध्य महेश्वरम्
Having spoken thus, the sages, endowed with austerity, went to their own directions; then, coming to Kuśasthalī, they worshipped the great Lord.
तस्मात्कवित्वमासाद्य चक्रे काव्यं मनोरमम्
From him, having attained poetic inspiration, he composed delightful poetry.
ततः प्रभृति देवेशो वाल्मीकेश्वरसंज्ञकः
From that time onward, the Lord of gods was known by the name Vālmīkeśvara.
इति ते कथितं लिंगं वाल्मीकेश्वरमुत्तमम्
Thus, the excellent liṅga called Vālmīkeśvara has been described to you.
प्रणिपत्य ततो भक्त्या रुद्रलोके महीयते
Then, bowing with devotion, one is honored in the world of Rudra.
भीमेश्वरं नरो दृष्ट्वा भक्त्या संपूज्य यत्नतः
Having seen Bhīmeśvara, a man, worshipping with devotion and care,
गर्गेश्वरं स्नापयित्वा तिलतैलेन मानवः
Having bathed Gargeśvara with sesame oil, a person—
उपोषितश्चतुर्दश्यां तिलप्रस्थतिलांभसा
Having fasted on the fourteenth day, with water mixed with sesame seeds,
गोसहस्रं नरो दत्त्वा भावं कृत्वा विशेषतः
A man, having given a thousand cows, especially with pure intent,
कामेश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य कुंकुमादिविलेपनैः
Having worshipped Kāmeśvara with ointments of saffron and the like,
चूडामणिं नमस्कृत्य नवम्यां कार्तिके सिते
Having bowed to Cūḍāmaṇi on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Kārtika,
चंडीश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य कृष्णाष्टम्यामुपोषितः
Having worshipped Caṇḍīśvara, fasting on the dark eighth day,
इत्यादितीर्थानि महेश्वरस्य पुण्यानि सर्वाणि नरोऽभिगम्य
Thus, having approached all these holy places of Maheśvara, which are meritorious—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये शुक्रेश्वरभीमेश्वर गर्गेश्वरकामेश्वर चूडामणीश्वर चण्डीश्वरादितीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम पञ्चविंशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the fifth Avanti division, in the greatness of the Avanti region, the twenty-fifth chapter named 'The Description of the Greatness of the Holy Places of Śukreśvara, Bhīmeśvara, Gargeśvara, Kāmeśvara, Cūḍāmaṇīśvara, Caṇḍīśvara, and others' is concluded.
प्रमाणं कथयस्वाद्य महाकालवनस्य मे
Tell me now, O revered one, the measurement of the great Kāla forest.
तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु त्वं गदतो मम
I shall now explain it to you; listen as I speak.
योजनस्यैव पर्यंतं चतुर्दिक्षूपशोभितम्
It extends for a yojana in all directions, adorned on every side.
द्वाराणि तत्र शोभंते कांचनैः कलशैः स्थितैः
There, the gateways shine, adorned with golden pots.
महेश्वरप्रयुक्ताश्च द्वाराध्यक्षा महाबलाः
And the mighty gatekeepers, appointed by the great Lord Śiva,
पिंगलेशः स्थितः पूर्वे बालरूपो विभावसुः
Piṅgaleśa, in the form of a child, stands in the east, shining like fire.
दक्षिणेऽपि महायोगी कायावरोहणेश्वरः
And in the south is the great yogi, Kāyāvarohaṇeśvara.
नियुक्तो वै महेशेन वारुणीं दिशमास्थितः
Appointed by Maheśa, he stands in the region of Varuṇa.
साधकः सर्वकार्याणामादिष्टः शंकरेण सः
He, empowered by Śaṃkara, accomplishes all tasks.
मृता रुद्रपुरं यांति विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः 5.1.26.
Those who die go to Rudrapura in celestial chariots that fulfill all desires.
पंचेशानीं नमस्कृत्य प्रतिलोमानु लोमतः
Having bowed to the five Lords, in reverse and direct order,
मुच्यते सर्वपापैस्तु बहुजन्मकृतैरपि
One is freed from all sins, even those accumulated over many births.