Skandapurana 15.44

Sūta said: / In ancient times, this entire Purāṇa was spoken by Skanda / to Bhṛgu, the son of Brahmā; from him, Aṅgiras obtained it likewise.

And from him Cyavana obtained it, and from him the sage Ṛcīka. / In this way, it was received through tradition in all worlds.

This Skānda Purāṇa was formerly proclaimed by Kumāra. / The man who hears it amidst good people is freed from sin.

This Purāṇa bestows long life and grants happiness to the four classes; / it was composed here by the Six-faced One, the noble-minded, with certainty.

Thus has this narrative been related; may there be well-being for you!

The man who hears the Skānda adorned with seven sections— / no one would be able to count his merit.

He who presents this māhātmya of dharma to a brahmin / shall dwell in the heavenly world for as many [years] as the number of syllables.

Just like the torrents of rain, or like the stars in the sky, / or like the sands in the Gaṅgā, so there is no counting [his merit].

A man who hears it with devotion even for a few days / attains all his aims; and [likewise] the man who recites this.

One who desires a son obtains sons; one who desires wealth obtains wealth; / a maiden who desires a husband obtains a charming husband.

And relatives obtain reunion with those residing abroad. / By hearing the Skānda Purāṇa, a man attains his wish.

For those who hear it and recite it, it grants all desires to mortals.

By hearing this sacred Purāṇa, one indeed attains long life; / a king conquers the earth and triumphs over his enemies.

A brahmin becomes knower of the Vedas; a kṣatriya attains a kingdom; / a vaiśya [attains] wealth and grain; a śūdra attains happiness.

He who hears one chapter, a verse, or even half a verse, / or he who hears a single quarter-verse, goes to the realm of Viṣṇu.

Having heard this Purāṇa, he who worships the reciter / has worshipped Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra.

Even if the guru imparts a single syllable to the student, / there is no object on earth which, by giving it, one would be free of debt.

Therefore, the Vyāsa who teaches the scripture must be fully honored / with cows, land, gold, garments, and the like, and with meals fulfilling all desires. 18

He who, filled with devotion, having heard the supreme scripture, / thus honors the teacher, shall attain the realm of Śiva. 19

By the very hearing of the Purāṇa, the sin accumulated over many births / comes to an end, and one obtains the fruit of all sacred fords. 20

All the gods die though nectar is in their bellies; / may he protect you, who lives even with poison lodged in his throat! 21

Vyāsa said: / Having spoken thus, when Sūta ceased, Śaunaka and the great seers, / having duly honored Sūta and praised him, congratulated him. 22

The seers said: / You have told of the creation and likewise the secondary creation, / the history of the lineages and dynasties, and the order of the Purāṇas, 23

and the extent of the manvantaras, the expansion of the universe, / and the nature of the wheel of constellations, properly described. 24

We are blessed, we have accomplished our purpose, having heard from your lotus face / this Skānda Mahāpurāṇa, O Sūta, and are overjoyed! 25

We, the great seers, the brahmins, give you blessings today: / O disciple of Vyāsa, of great wisdom, live long and be happy! 26

Having thus bestowed blessings upon him and given him garments and ornaments, / having dismissed Sūta Lomaśa, they then performed the sacrificial rites. 27

Thus ends the forty-fourth chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Account of Sūta's Honor and the Conclusion and Completion of the Entire Skandamahāpurāṇa Text Preceded by the Description of the Māhātmya of the Worship of the Paurāṇika Vyāsa, the Gift of the Manuscript, the Recitation, and the Hearing of the Skandamahāpurāṇa', in the fourth [section], the Dvārakāmāhātmya, in the seventh [section], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses. 44

Thus the fourth [section], the Dvārakāmāhātmya, in the seventh [section], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa is complete. (7-4)

Thus the seventh [section], the Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa is complete. 7