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.
अनेनैव स्वदेहेन रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति
With this very body, he goes to the world of Rudra.
तथा शृणु प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्
Now listen, I will tell you of that which destroys all sins.
श्राद्धं कृत्वा महाकालं नत्वा चेशानमीश्वरम्
Having performed śrāddha, and having bowed to Mahākāla and Īśāna, the Lord,
उपगम्य ततो देवं गणेशं पिंगलेश्वरम्
Then, approaching the god Gaṇeśa, Piṅgaleśvara,
महाकालेश्वरं प्राप्य भूयः स्नातो जितेंद्रियः
Having reached Mahākāleśvara, having bathed again, with senses controlled,
ईशाने गमयेद्रात्रिं कृत्वा वै नक्तभोजनम्
He should spend the night in the direction of Īśāna, having observed night-fasting.
द्वादश्यां पूर्ववत्सर्वं प्रातः स्नात्वा व्रजेन्नरः
On the twelfth day, as before, after bathing in the morning, a man should proceed.
त्रयोदश्यामथाप्येवं बिल्वेशं पश्चिमेऽर्चयेत् 5.1.26.
And likewise on the thirteenth day, he should worship Bilveśa in the west.
अमावास्यां शुचिः स्नातो महाकालेश्वरं यजेत्
On the new moon, pure and bathed, he should worship Mahākāleśvara.
गीतनृत्यादिकं कृत्वा प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत्
Having performed singing, dancing, and the like, he should bow down and ask forgiveness.