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.
कल्पे तत्पुरुषे पूर्वं वेदविद्भिर्मनीषिभिः
In the former age of Tatpuruṣa, the wise knowers of the Veda,
वेधसा सृजितं विश्वं दैत्यदानवरा क्षसम्
the Creator fashioned the universe, along with the Daityas and Dānavas.
देवाश्च दानवाः संख्ये नित्यं स्पर्धासमन्विताः
The gods and the Dānavas, always filled with rivalry, contended in battle.
चारणाः किंनरैः सार्धमेवं ते द्वेषतत्पराः
The Cāraṇas, together with the Kinnaras, were likewise intent on enmity.
सर्वे चैव च बलिनो दुर्बलैर्मनुजैः सह
All the strong together with the weak among men.
एवमन्योन्यमन्यैश्च निर्मर्यादमिदं जगत्
Thus, by one another and by others, this world becomes without boundaries.
व्रजामि शरणं देवं शरणार्त्तिहरं हरिम्
I go for refuge to the god Hari, remover of the distress of those who seek shelter.
ततो ध्यातो महायोगी विश्वरूपधरो हरिः
Then Hari, the great yogi, bearing the form of the universe, was meditated upon.
ब्रह्मन्ध्यातस्त्वया सम्यग्ध्यानयोगेन पश्य माम्
Brahma, meditate upon me properly with the yoga of meditation, and see me.
ततो धाता निशम्यैतत्त्यक्त्वा ध्यानमवेक्ष्य तम् 5.1.41.
Then the creator, hearing this, abandoned meditation and beheld him.