कल्पं कल्पानलं कालं कालचक्रं क्रतुप्रियम्
Time, the fire at the end of an age, time itself, the wheel of time, the lover of sacrifices—
त्वष्टारं विष्टरं विश्वं सदसत्कर्मसाक्षिकम्
The shaper, the expander, the universe, the witness of all acts, good and bad—
ब्रह्माणं वासरारंभे रक्तवर्णं महाद्युतिम्
At the beginning of the day, Brahmā appeared, radiant and red in hue.
नाम्नामष्टशतं दिव्यं विष्णुना समुदाहृतम्
Vishnu recited a divine collection of eight hundred names.
न तस्य विपदः क्वापि सर्वत्रापि शुभा गतिः
He faces no adversity anywhere; his path is auspicious everywhere.
तेजः प्रज्ञां परं लाभं ज्ञानं च लभते गतिम्
He attains supreme brilliance, wisdom, great gain, and knowledge, as well as the highest state.
केशवार्कमुखं दृष्ट्वा पद्मरागसमप्रभम्
Beholding the face of Keśava, shining like a padmarāga gem and the sun,
केशवार्कसमीपे तु रेणुतीर्थं प्रचक्षते
Near Keśava and the sun, the place is called Reṇu Tīrtha.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽ वन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये केशवादित्यमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रयस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-third chapter, describing the glory of Keśava Āditya, in the section on the sanctity of the Avantī region, within the fifth Avantī Khanda of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
स्कंदस्य च जटाभद्रं चक्रे यत्र पुरा शिवः
It was there that Shiva once fashioned the auspicious matted locks of Skanda.
तारकं च तथा दैत्यं हत्वा यत्र सुरद्विषम्
And there, after slaying the demon Tāraka, the enemy of the gods,
कथं स्कंदः समुत्पन्न एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्
How was Skanda born? I wish to know this.
सनत्कुमार उवाच पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे निर्जिता दानवैः सुराः
Sanatkumāra said: In ancient times, during the battle between gods and demons, the gods were defeated by the demons.
तत्र तु देव राजेन तपसोग्रेण वै मुने
There, the king of the gods, through intense austerity, O sage,
ततस्तुष्टो महादेवः शक्रस्याभिमुखः स्थितः
Then, Mahādeva, pleased, stood facing Śakra.
महासेनापतिं देव प्रयच्छ परमेश्वर
O Supreme Lord, grant the gods a great commander.
सेनान्यां च महासेनं सुराणां भयहारकम्
Among the commanders, grant Mahāsena, who removes the fear of the gods.
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे देवः सर्वभूतपतिर्हरः
Having spoken thus, the lord Hara, master of all beings, vanished.
देवदारुवने तस्थौ ज्ञानध्यानपरोऽभवत् 5.1.34.
He remained in the Devadāru forest, absorbed in knowledge and meditation.
ध्यायंति नियतात्मनः प्राणायामपरा मुने
Those of disciplined mind devoted themselves to meditation and the practice of breath control, O sage.
स ध्यायति किमर्थं तन्न विद्मः परमार्थिनः
He is meditating, but for what purpose—we do not know, for he is absorbed in the highest truth.
मध्ये वयसि वर्तंती यासीद्दाक्षायणी सती
In the prime of her youth, Daksha’s daughter, Sati, lived.
निमंत्रितो न मे भर्ता इति कोपं चकार या
She became angry, saying, 'My husband was not invited.'
भवभार्या भवित्रीति नान्यं वरमचिंतयत्
She thought of no other husband but Bhava, wishing only to become his wife.
कथं हि शंकरो देवो मम भर्ता भविष्यति
How indeed will Lord Shankara become my husband?
ततः समागता देवाः कृत्वाग्रे बलसूदनम्
Then the gods assembled, placing the destroyer of armies at their forefront.
ते सुरास्तत्स्तुति कृत्वा वाक्यमेतत्समैरयन्
Those gods, having offered praise, spoke these words.
ततोऽवोचत्सुरान्ब्रह्मा ज्ञातं कार्यं समाहितम्
Then Brahma said to the gods, 'The purpose is known and has been considered.'
तथा यतध्वं देवेशं यथा वांछति पार्वतीम् 5.1.34.
So act, O lords of the gods, so that the Lord of the gods desires Parvati.
ततो मेरुं समागत्य पुनर्मंत्रं प्रचक्रिरे
Then, gathering at Meru, they again performed a ritual.