Skandapurana 1.2.14

Nandikeśvara said:

He too, looking up at Brahmā and smiling twice as much at that,

being endowed with discernment, concluded: 'The tip was not seen by him.'

"To show grace to me, the confused one, and to destroy the pride of this Brahmā,

that God of gods alone, the protector of beings, is sufficient," he thought.

"Through the inability to see the base of the pillar of fire, my pride

has indeed vanished today, I think, since devotion to the three-eyed Lord has arisen.

Because my pride is gone, that Maheśvara is now praised,

from whose right and left limbs our origin took place.

Even today, because his pride has not vanished, having found a false witness,

Hiraṇyagarbha wishes to deceive me in this way.

Therefore today, capable of dispelling all suffering,

that Śaṃkara alone must be approached by me as a refuge.

For one who has committed such an offense, ungrateful, treacherous to his teacher,

who else but him is the protector? I praise that very Śaṃkara."

Viṣṇu said:

"Victory, O you whose form is made of earth! Victory, O you whose form is made of water!

Victory, O you whose form is the sun! Victory, O you whose form is the moon!

Victory to You whose form is fire! Victory to You whose form is wind!

Victory to You whose form is the sacrificer! Victory to You whose form is space! // 9

Protect me, O You who transcend the three guṇas! Protect me, O embodiment of Time!

Protect me, O You of imperishable sovereignty! Protect me, O ocean of compassion! // 1.3.2.14.10

You are the creator of all the worlds, the protector of all embodied beings,

and the destroyer of all creatures; who else is there without You? // 11

You are more minute than the subtle, You are greater than the great;

pervading this universe inside and out, You alone abide. // 12

The Vedas are Your exhalation; the universe is the splendor of Your craftsmanship;

You are indeed Your own, O Lord; knowledge is Your self. // 13

The immortals, the Dānavas, the Daityas, the Siddhas, the Vidyādharas, humans,

living beings, birds, mountains, and even fires—all are indeed You alone. // 14

You are heaven, You are liberation, You are the Omkāra, You are the sacrifice;

You are yoga, You are supreme consciousness—what are You not, O Īśvara? // 15

You are the beginning, the middle, and the end of both moving and unmoving beings;

assuming the nature of Time, You govern the entire universe. // 16

The Supreme Lord, the transcendent ruler, the gracious bestower of blessings to all, Śiva—

how might that very Dhūrjaṭi become directly manifest to me, // 17

seeing whom and taking refuge in whom one attains the supreme good?

Or rather, I shall praise that splendor according to my capacity as soon as it has appeared; // 18

hearing that, He whose ears are everywhere will surely show mercy.’

Having thus resolved, Vaikuṇṭha began to praise Him. // 19

Bowing to that very pillar of fire, the Supreme Lord,

recognizing that Lord of the universe to be devoid of beginning, middle, and end,

though forcibly restrained by that Viriñca, [Viṣṇu], smiling, [spoke]: // 1.3.2.14.20

Śrī Viṣṇu said:

Victory, O God, Mahādeva, Vāmadeva, whose banner bears the bull,

destroyer of Time, destroyer of sacrifices, blue-throated one, crested with the moon! // 21

Victory, O Śambhu, Śiva, Īśāna, Śarva, Tryambaka, Dhūrjaṭi,

enemy of Smara, foe of Tripura, Sthāṇu, Bhava, Maheśvara! // 22

Victory, O Īśa, wielder of the hatchet, bearer of the trident, Paśupati, Hara,

all-knowing one, Bharga, lord of spirits, bearer of the skull, blue and red one! // 23

Victory, O Rudra, foe of the sacrifice, bearer of the Pināka, lord of the Pramathas,

bearer of Gaṅgā, whose hair is space, lord of the mountain, Parameśvara! // 24

Victory, O Bhīma, hunter of the deer, clad in animal skins, treasure of compassion!

O You whose seed is fire, You dwell eternally on Kailāsa. // 25

By Your command the wind blows, the serpent bears the burden of the earth,

the sun and moon shine, and the cosmic egg floats upon the ocean. // 26

The luminaries traverse the sky—all by Your decree, O Lord!

I and Brahmā are empowered to create and protect the worlds; // 27

having appointed [us], You effect nourishment; the earth produces grains;

and the unswerving [oceans] do not transgress their boundary—that is indeed Your greatness. // 28

Your power, comprising the great perfections such as anima, is matchless;

how could I neglect You, who are praised by other immortals? // 29

In prosperity we forget You, yet in distress we remember You;

You have no anger toward Your devotees; Your grace is ever present. // 1.3.2.14.30

When You wish to inspire devotion, and when You conceal it,

then delusion and enlightenment are brought about for men, leading to bondage and liberation. // 31

Thus praised by the discus-wielder with folded hands,

while the lotus-born [Brahmā], haughty with pride, mocked Him, the Lord of creatures, that treasure of mercy, manifested Himself. // 32

Thus ends the fourteenth chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Manifestation of Śaṃkara,' in the latter half of the Aruṇācalamāhātmya in the first [book], the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, of the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses. // 14