Skandapurana 1.3.34.21

1.3.34.21

2 0 śaṃbhorliṃgarūpatvaprāptivarṇane suratārakāsurasaṃgrāmavṛttāntavarṇanam, tatra parājayaṃ prāpya brahmasamīpe gatāndevānprati nabhovāṇyā tārakāsuravadhāya śivātmajasyaivāvaśyakatva- varṇanapūrvakaṃ patnyā viyuktasya śivasya dāraparigrahārthaṃ yatnakaraṇāyājñāpanama, devairna- bhovāṇīśravaṇānantaraṃ himālayaṃ prati gatvā kanyotpādanārtha prārthanākaraṇam, himavatā nijabhāryāyai menāyai kanyotpādanārthaṃ devaprārthanākīrtanam, menayā kanyājananeḥ mātā- pitrorduḥkhakīrtanama, tataḥ paropakārārthapravṛtterāvaśyakatvaṃ manyamānena himavatā bodhi-tayā menayā himavataḥ sakāśājjaṭhareḥ jagadambaivibhūtidhāraṇam, jagadambāvirbhāva- varṇanam......... ... .... 42 1

20 In the description of Śambhu attaining the form of a liṅga: an account of the battle between the gods and the demon Tāraka; the gods, defeated therein and approaching Brahmā, are addressed by a voice from the sky describing that the slaughter of the demon Tāraka requires only a son born of Śiva, and ordering them to make an effort toward Śiva taking a wife since he is separated from his spouse; after hearing the voice from the sky, the gods go to Himālaya and make a request for the production of a daughter; Himavat's telling of the gods' request to his wife Menā for the production of a daughter; Menā's recounting of the distress of parents upon the birth of a daughter; then, persuaded by Himavat who considers the necessity of acting for the welfare of others, Menā conceives in her womb the divine power of the Mother of the Universe from Himavat; the description of the manifestation of the Mother of the Universe... 42