तत्र विश्वपतिः श्रीमान्विश्वेशो विश्वकृद्विभुः
There, the Lord of the universe, glorious, Lord of all, the creator of the universe, the all-pervading one.
एवं कुशस्थली ख्याता हेमशृङ्गेति या पुरा
Thus, that which was formerly known as Kuśasthalī is now called Hemaśṛṅga.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये व्याससनत्कुमारसंवादे कुशस्थलीनामहेतुकथावर्णनंनामैकचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-first chapter, named 'The Description of the Reason for the Name Kuśasthalī,' in the dialogue between Vyāsa and Sanatkumāra, in the section on the greatness of the Avanti region, in the fifth Avanti Khaṇḍa of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
तथा शृणु सुरैः पूर्वं दैत्यसैन्यपराजितैः
Now listen, as formerly, when the gods were defeated by the armies of the demons.
आश्रितं मेरुशिखरं वनकंदगुहावृतम्
They took refuge on the summit of Meru, covered with forests and mountain caves.
अन्योन्यं च समासाद्य समभ्यर्च्य परस्परम्
Meeting each other there, they mutually worshipped one another.
निवेदयांचक्रिरे सर्वं तत्रागमनकारणम्
They explained to each other all the reasons for their coming there.
जगाम त्रिदशैः साकं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
Together with the gods, they went to the god of gods, the great Lord Maheśvara.
ऋद्धिसिद्धिप्रदं नित्यं मुनिचारणसेवितम्
He who always bestows prosperity and success, attended by sages and celestial bards.
ऋषिभिर्भार्गवादिभिर्देवर्षिनारदोत्तमैः
By the sages, including Bhārgava and others, and by the foremost of divine sages, Nārada.
प्रजापतिगणाकीर्णं मानवैश्च चतुर्दशैः
Filled with hosts of Prajapatis and the fourteen Manus,
संसेव्यं च सदाचारैः पुण्यवद्भिर्जनैस्तथा
And frequented by virtuous people of good conduct and merit,
मणिरत्नैश्च सोपानै र्दिव्यं सरसशोभितम् 5.1.42.
Adorned with jeweled gems and steps, and beautified by divine lakes,
षडूर्मिरहितं स्थानं यत्र तिष्ठन्ति पक्षिणः स्तुतिमारेभिरे कर्तुं देवदेवजगत्पतेः
A place free from the six waves of suffering, where birds reside, beginning to sing praises to the Lord of gods and the master of the universe,
नृसिंहरूपायोग्राय नमो वाराहरूपिणे
Homage to the fierce one in the form of Narasimha, and to the one who took the form of Varaha,
वासुदेवाय शांताय यदूनां पतये नमः
Salutations to Vāsudeva, the peaceful one, the lord of the Yadus,
इति स्तवाभियुक्तानां वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
As they were engaged in these hymns, a bodiless voice spoke,
महाकालवने रम्ये ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेविते
In the delightful great forest of Time, attended by hosts of Brahmarshis,
नाम्ना कुशस्थली रम्या सिद्धगंधर्वसेविता
There is a beautiful place called Kuśasthalī, served by Siddhas and Gandharvas,
कल्पक्षये क्षयं यांति स्थावराणि चराणि च
At the end of the age, all moving and unmoving beings come to destruction,
सरितः सागराः सर्वे सरांस्युपवनानि च
All rivers, oceans, lakes, and groves,
ज्योतींषि चंद्रसूर्यौ च सर्वं विष्णुमयं जगत् 5.1.42.
The luminaries, the moon and the sun—all the universe is pervaded by Viṣṇu,
सर्वमादाय भगवाञ्छंकरस्तत्र तिष्ठति
Having taken everything into himself, the blessed Śaṅkara remains there,
सर्वयज्ञमयो वेदः सर्वधर्ममयी दया
The Veda is the essence of all sacrifices, and compassion is the essence of all righteousness,
तस्माद्धितकरं क्षेत्रं कुरूणां वै सुरोत्तमाः
Therefore, O best of gods, this land of the Kurus is truly beneficial,
तस्माद्दशगुणा काशी काश्या दशगुणा गया
Therefore, Kāśī is ten times greater, and Gayā is ten times greater than Kāśī,
उपरागसहस्राणि व्यतिपातायुतानि च
Thousands of eclipses and tens of thousands of planetary conjunctions,
लक्षमिंदुक्षये दानं सहस्रं चायनद्वये
A gift given at the waning of a hundred thousand moons is equal to a thousand at the two solstices.
तस्माद्धितकरा देवा पुरी ह्येषा कुशस्थली
Therefore, O gods, this city called Kuśasthalī is beneficial.
तत्सर्वं भोः सुरश्रेष्ठाः सर्वं तच्चाक्षयं भवेत्
All of this, O best of gods, shall indeed become imperishable.