Skandapurana 1.2.15

Nandikeśvara said:

Bursting through the pillar of fire like the moon breaking through evening clouds,

He mounted the lord of bulls, white as a peak of Kailāsa, // 1

with matted locks, His head crowned by the crescent moon,

wearing a garland of Brahmā's skulls and a wreath of cassia blossoms, // 2

with serpent-earrings, eyes shining upon the surfaces of His foreheads,

with five radiant faces and His neck dark with poison, // 3

bearing with His arms a trident, a skull-bowl, a ḍamaru drum, a deer, an axe, a bow,

a spotless khaṭvāṅga staff, a sword, and a serpent. // 4

His form was covered with ash scattered by his breath, and he wore an upper garment of elephant skin.

Endowed with all ornaments, he was praised by all the gods. (5)

Wearing a tiger skin as a lower garment, he was beheld by the two of them.

Beholding that form, the lotus-eyed one danced with joy. (6)

Knowing nothing at all, the lotus-born [Brahmā] was bewildered. (7)

Welcoming Mādhava with a gracious gaze, Maheśvara

then raised up the four-faced one with an angry roar, (8)

and said: “You two became arrogant out of pride in your authority.

Yet neither of you need feel ashamed here; this is the nature of those who hold power. (9)

Having tested my sovereignty, Hari gained enlightenment.

This lotus-born one never did; deceitful in mind, he is wicked-souled. (10)

His five-headedness was punished when I was mocked by him;

and again, when he lusted after his own daughter, he was disciplined by me. (11)

This is his third offense—how indeed can it be tolerated?

Therefore, let there be no worshipful consecration anywhere for this Vidhi [Brahmā]! (12)

And as for this petal of the ketaka flower, since it gave false testimony,

from now on it shall never rest upon my head!” (13)

Having thus cursed these two, Giriśa spoke affectionately to Viṣṇu: (14)

Glorious Maheśvara said:

“Child, do not fear! I am pleased with you, who possess devotion.

Indeed, you were born from my limb, and you are especially endowed with sattva.

You are the foremost of the devotees of Maheśvara in the world, just as before. (15)

Henceforth, your devotion to me shall never diminish;

increasing at every moment, it will bring about liberation.” (16)

When the Three-Eyed One had thus shown grace to Hari, who was devoted and free from egoism,

Vidhi, terrified and bowed low, having performed his obeisance, began to praise him: (17)

Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, named ‘Description of the Undertaking of the Praise of Śiva by Brahmā,’ in the second half of the Aruṇācalamāhātmya in the first [section, the] Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses. (15)