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.
पाद्येनाचमनीयेन मधुपर्केण केशवम्
With water for washing the feet, for sipping, and with a honey-offering, to Keśava.
ऋते त्वया जगद्विष्णो नैवावस्थातु मर्हति
Except by you, O Viṣṇu, the world is not able to remain.
शास्ता त्वमस्य विश्वस्य विशुद्धस्य च नापरः
You are the ruler of this pure universe; there is no other.
देवदानवगंधर्वाः सयक्षो रगराक्षसाः परस्परं विनिघ्नंति तांश्च त्वं रक्षितुं क्षमः
The gods, demons, gandharvas, yakṣas, and rākṣasas destroy each other; you alone are able to protect them.
त्वमस्य विश्वस्य चराचरस्य स्थितेः सदा प्राणभृदात्मरूपिणी
You are always the sustaining principle of this universe, both moving and unmoving, in the form of the soul of all living beings.
त्वया धृतं सर्वमिदं जगद्वै यतस्ततोऽसि त्वमुपेन्द्रसंज्ञः
All this world is upheld by you; therefore you are called Upendra.
निवासितं विश्वमिदं त्वयाद्य वासश्च धातोरिति वासुदेवः
This universe is inhabited by you today, and the abode of the creator is thus Vāsudeva.
सेनानुरूपं जगदेव यस्मादतः स्मृतस्त्वं किल विश्वसेनः
Because the world is according to your army, you are therefore remembered as Viśvasena.
जितं त्वया देव जगत्त्रयं यज्जितेश्च धातोस्त्वमतोऽसि जिष्णुः
The three worlds have been conquered by you, O god; since the creator is conquered by you, you are Jiṣṇu.
त्वमस्य सर्वस्य भवादिराजस्तवास्तु भद्रासनमद्वितीयम 5.1.41.
You are the king of all, beginning with existence; may your auspicious, unrivaled throne endure.