तस्माद्ब्रूहि ममैकं तु प्रश्नं तथ्येन सांप्रतम्
Therefore, tell me now one question truthfully.
कुशस्थली कथं नाम तथावंती कथं स्मृता
How did the name Kuśasthalī arise, and likewise, how is it remembered as Avantī?
नाम्नां हेतुमथो तेषां ब्रूहि त्वं मुनिसत्तम
O best of sages, tell me the reason for those names.
कथितं वामदेवाय गौरकल्पे पुरातने
This was told to Vāmadeva in the ancient age of Gaurī.
महेशेन भगवता विधिश्चैवात्र हेतुतः
By the blessed Maheśa and also by Vidhi, the cause was explained here.
स्वर्गप्राप्तिश्च भवति स्वेच्छाचारविहारिणाम्
Those who dwell there as they wish, moving freely, attain heaven.
कुतो निवर्तितं चित्तं जायते वसतां क्वचित् एतन्मे भगवन्ब्रूहि हितार्थं सर्वदेहिनाम् 5.1.40.
How is the mind restrained, and where does it arise for those who dwell there? O blessed one, tell me this for the welfare of all embodied beings.
प्रोवाच पार्वतीकांतं प्रभुः प्रीतः पितामहः
The Lord, pleased, Pitāmaha, spoke to the beloved of Pārvatī.
अजानन्निव त्वं सर्वं मां पृच्छसि सनातन
As if not knowing, you, O Eternal One, ask me everything.
त्वमेव च महाकालः सर्वं वै ज्ञायते त्वया
Indeed, you yourself are Mahākāla; all is known by you.
निवसंति न ते मर्त्याः सुरास्ते वै न संशयः
Mortals do not dwell there; those are surely gods, without doubt.
वर्तते च पुरी तत्र रम्यहर्म्या सुशोभना
There exists a city with delightful and splendid mansions.
स्वर्णशृङ्गाश्च प्रासादा विहिता विश्वकर्मणा
Palaces with golden peaks were constructed by Viśvakarman.
पूर्वकल्पे स्थितोऽहं च यत्र त्वं केशवस्तथा
In the former age, I resided there, and so did you, Keśava.
तथा देवर्षयः सिद्धा यक्षकिंनरदानवाः
Likewise, the divine sages, siddhas, yakṣas, kinnaras, and dānavas.
तथैव च वरा नार्यो देवानामतिवल्लभाः 5.1.40.
And also the best women, exceedingly dear to the gods, were present there.
आगत्य च यदा देवः सह देवैर्महेश्वरः
And when the great Lord arrived there together with the gods,
प्रासादैः स्वर्णशृंगाढ्यैर्मणिरत्नविभूषितैः
with palaces adorned with golden spires and decorated with jewels and precious stones,
तत्रास्ते शोभने दिव्ये प्रासादे मणिभूषिते
there he dwells, in a splendid, divine palace adorned with gems.
ततो महेशश्च पितामहश्च समेत्य तं विश्वपतिं ननंदतुः
Then Maheśa and Pitāmaha, having come together, rejoiced with that Lord of the universe.
किमागतौ वा त्रिदिवान्महीतलं सहानुगावाश यकश्च कथ्यताम्
For what reason have you come from heaven to earth, along with your attendants? Let this be told.
त्वया विना नैव सुरालये सुखं महीतले वाथ रसातलेऽ स्ति नः
Without you, O Lord, there is no happiness for us in the abode of the gods, nor on earth, nor even in the netherworld.
प्रयच्छ विश्वेश्वर चावयोरिह स्थानं च तीर्थं प्रलयेऽक्षयं च
Grant us, O Lord of the universe, a place and a sacred site here, and an imperishable abode at the dissolution.
ददाम्यभीष्टं युवयोरिहालयं प्रजापते ह्युत्तरतस्तव स्थितिः
I grant your desired abode here, O Lord of creatures; your dwelling shall be to the north.
महाकालो ह्यधोज्वालो जगदात्मा प्रभुः स्थितः
Mahākāla, blazing below, the Lord, the soul of the universe, is established.
क्रीडार्थं नगरी सृष्टा सर्वभूतहितैषिणा 5.1.40.
For the sake of play, the city was created by the one who seeks the welfare of all beings.
भवद्भ्यां हेमशृं गेति यस्माच्च समुदीरिता
Because you both spoke of golden peaks,
एवं कनकशृङ्गेति प्रथमं नाम कथ्यते
thus, the first name is said to be Kanakaśṛṅga—Golden Peak.
जपंतश्च स्थिता यत्र ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
There, where Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara stand, engaged in recitation,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये कनकशृङ्गाभिधानवृत्तांतवर्णनंनाम चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fortieth chapter, named 'The Account of the Golden Peak,' in the section on the greatness of the Avantī region, in the fifth Avantya Book of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.