महाकालवनं रम्यं स्वर्गात्सुखकरं परम् 5.2.32.
The delightful Mahakala forest is more pleasing than heaven itself.
अनौपम्यगुणं विद्धि पत्तनं पर्वतात्मजे गीतवादित्रचातुर्यैः स्पर्द्धते यः सुरालयम्
Know, O daughter of the mountain, that Pattana is endowed with incomparable qualities; in skill with song and music, it rivals the abode of the gods.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि देवर्षिर्नारदो मुनिः
At that moment, O goddess, the divine sage Narada appeared.
विनोदार्थं मया पृष्टस्त्वत्प्रियार्थं कुतूहलात्
For amusement, and out of curiosity for your sake, I questioned him.
कस्मिन्नाश्रमसंस्थाने तपसः संचयः कृतः
In which hermitage was the accumulation of austerities performed?
कौतुकं दृष्टपूर्वं तु वद मे मुनिसत्तम कथयामास वृत्तांतं पत्तनस्य प्रयत्नतः
O best of sages, tell me of any marvel you have seen before; he carefully recounted the story of the city.
बहूनि संपरिक्रम्य तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Having traveled to many sacred fords and shrines,
अटनार्थं महादेव जंबूद्वीपे मनोरमे
for the sake of wandering, O Mahadeva, upon the delightful Jambudvipa,
स्वेच्छाकल्पितविन्यासः प्रासादशतकल्पितः
with arrangements made as he wished, adorned with hundreds of palaces,
सर्वर्तुकुसुमामोदसुखस्पर्शानिलावृतः
surrounded by breezes carrying the touch of comfort and the fragrance of flowers from every season,
वज्रेंद्रनीलवैडूर्यचन्द्रकांतादिदी पितः 5.2.32.
shining with diamonds, sapphires, beryl, and moonstones,
शक्राग्नियमरक्षोब्धिवायुसोमेशसेवितः
attended by Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuna, Vayu, Soma, and Ishana,
सदा प्रमुदिता देवास्तेऽपि कांक्षंति पत्तनन्न्
even the ever-joyful gods desire that city.
विद्योतितदिशो दांताः सूर्य वैश्वानरप्रभाः
The directions are illumined by the radiance of the restrained, like the brilliance of the sun and fire.
विप्रा माहेश्वराः पुण्याः क्षत्रिया हरतत्पराः
The virtuous Brahmins devoted to Shiva, and the Kshatriyas intent on Vishnu,
स शुभ्ररूपः स च लोहिताकृतिः स चापि पीतः ससितेतरः क्वचित्
He is of shining form, he is also of red appearance, and sometimes yellow, sometimes of another color.
क्वचिद्रविसहस्राक्षः क्वचिदेकरविप्रभः
Sometimes he is like a thousand suns, sometimes with the brilliance of a single sun.
जन्म मृत्युजरारोगैर्दुःखानि विविधानि च
Birth, death, old age, disease, and various other sufferings—
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Devi, this power of his, destroyer of sin, has been described to you.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पंचम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीतिलिंगमाहात्म्ये पत्तनेश्वर माहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-second chapter, named 'The Greatness of Pattaneshvara,' in the section on the eighty-four Lingas, in the Avanti Khanda of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
विद्धि पापहरं पुण्यं सर्वसंपत्करं सदा
Know it to be sin-destroying, meritorious, and always bestowing all prosperity.
पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे बभूव पृथिवीपतिः
Long ago, in the Rāthantara Kalpa, there was a lord of the earth.
धर्मात्मा महात्मा च पराक्रमधनो नृपः
The king was righteous, noble-hearted, and endowed with great valor.
समः शत्रौ च पुत्रे च मित्रे च परधर्म्मवित्
He was impartial toward enemy, son, and friend, and understood the duties of others.
अतीव वल्लभा सा च प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
She was exceedingly dear, more precious even than life itself.
जातमात्रो निजोत्संगे स्थिरमुल्लाप्य वै पुनः
As soon as he was born, she firmly embraced him in her own lap.
स जातिस्मरणो जातो मातुरुत्संगमास्थितः
He, endowed with memory of previous births, remained in his mother's embrace.
भीतास्मि किमिदं वत्स हासो यद्वदने तव
I am afraid—what is this, my child, this smile upon your face?
इत्युक्तो मातरं प्राह सर्वोऽपि स्वार्थमीहते अंतर्धानगता चेयं द्वितीया जातहारिणी
Thus addressed, he spoke to his mother: 'Everyone pursues their own interest; this one, having become invisible, is the second to steal a newborn.'
पुत्रप्रीत्या च मातस्त्वमतः स्वार्थं समीहसे 5.2.33.
Out of love for your son, mother, you too now seek your own advantage.