Skandapurana 4.15

Agasti said:

Listen, O highly fortunate wife Lopāmudrā, partner in dharma,

to the story narrated to Śivaśarman by the two attendants of Viṣṇu.

Śivaśarman said:

Oh, wonderful is this lunar story heard from the two attendants!

Recount the story of the realm of the stars, O two skilled in all narratives!

The two attendants said:

Anciently, from the back of the thumb of the Creator who desired to create creation,

Dakṣa Prajāpati was born, expert in creating progeny.

Sixty daughters were his, adorned with austerity and beauty,

surpassing all loveliness, auspicious, headed by Rohiṇī.

Having performed severe austerity after reaching the city of Viśveśvara,

they worshipped Mahādeva, Soma, who is adorned with the moon.

When Īśāna, pleased, came to grant a boon,

he whose nature was gracious spoke: "Ask for an excellent boon!"

Then, hearing the words of Śambhu, those maidens said:

"If a boon is to be given to us, O Śaṃkara, we are fit for a husband.

O Mahādeva, [let it be] one who removes the suffering of worldly existence, even as you do...

"May he who is equal to you in beauty become our husband."

Having installed a very great liṅga named Nakṣatreśvara,

on the charming bank of the Vāraṇā, near Saṃgameśvara,

for a thousand divine years, in a manner called 'acting like men',

a great tapas was performed by them, difficult even for men to perform.

Then, truly pleased, Viśveśa granted an excellent boon

to all those who had a single husband, their minds firmly fixed in one place.

The venerable Viśveśvara said:

"Indeed, such fierce tapas was never endured by other

women in the past; therefore, your name here shall truly be Nakṣatra.

Because tapas known as 'acting like men' has now been performed

by you, manhood shall be yours at your will.

In this entire circle of stars, you will be foremost;

and you shall be the excellent sources of the zodiac signs, beginning with Aries.

He who is the lord of herbs, of nectar, and of the brahmins—

O fair-faced ones, you shall have a husband in that very lord.

Having worshipped this liṅga of yours named Nakṣatreśvara,

a mortal will go to your excellent world.

Your world shall exist above the Moon;

and you shall be honored in the midst of all the constellations.

And those who worship the constellations and observe the nakṣatra vows

shall dwell in your world, possessing radiance equal to the nakṣatras.

Afflictions from stars, planets, and zodiac signs

shall never happen to those who behold Nakṣatreśvara in Kāśī."

Agastya said:

Then the world of Budha came into the view of the eyes of Śivaśarman,

as the two attendants, their minds fixed on Viṣṇu, were relating the story of the stellar sphere.

Śivaśarman said:

"Whose matchless world is this? Tell me, O two divine attendants!

Like the nectar-rayed [moon], it delights my mind exceedingly."

The two attendants said:

"O Śivaśarman, listen to this story that takes away sin,

for the entertainment of the path to heaven, destroying the three kinds of suffering.

He who was formerly described by us as having great splendor,

that king of the twice-born who attained imperial sovereignty, is before you.

He by whom the three worlds were given as the sacrificial fee of the Rājasūya,

who performed fierce tapas for a hundred padmas [of years];

who was born from the eye of Atri, the grandson indeed of Brahmā,

the master of all herbs and the lord of the heavenly bodies;

who is praised as the treasure-house of flawless digits;

who, rising, seizes the torment of others by the throat with his own rays;

who spreads joy among the white night-lotuses along with the world;

who is the mirror-disc for beholding the charming adornment of the women of the quarters—

what need is there of other multitudes of virtues? Not even comparable to this of the Moon:

that the omniscient [Śiva] wears his digit as an ornament upon his own head.

Deluded by the pride of sovereignty, he abducted the wife of Bṛhaspati,

the domestic priest, the guru, and the brother of his father's lineage;

the beautiful one seized Tārā, who was endowed with beauty, by force,

even though he was forbidden by the gods and many divine seers.

This was not the fault of that king of the twice-born, the storehouse of arts;

except for the three-eyed [Śiva], whose mind has not been shattered by Kāma?

This darkness spreads all around; to quiet it, the Creator fashioned

a lamp, the sun's rays, and a great medicinal herb; but darkness has no sovereignty over anything.

Beneficial advice that is praised does not reach one deluded by the pride of power, just like Śiva's well-being,

or like a pure mind does not touch an adverse mind despite bathing in sacred fords arranged by evil people.

Fie, fie upon this activity of excessive prosperity, marked by wandering glances, since

he looks for a moment with an unpleasant eye, struck down by an abode of misfortunes!

Ah, who in the three worlds has not been conquered by Kāma, armed though he is with flowers? Who has not fallen into the power of anger, and who has not been deluded by greed?

Who has not met disaster, his heart pierced by the spear-points of a woman's eyes? Who, having attained the fortune of kingship, has not set out on the path of blindness, even though possessing good eyes?

The goddess of fortune belonging to sovereignty is extremely fickle; and let whatever is earned here be attained...

Those whose conduct is noble should at all times perform what is steadfast, good or not good, and exceedingly beneficial. // 36

When that fierce one did not return Tārā to [Bṛhaspati,] the descendant of Aṅgiras,

Rudra then took up his Ajagava bow and supported his rear. // 37

By that great-souled one, the supreme missile called Brahmaśiras

was discharged against the God of Gods, and by him it was then destroyed. // 38

Between the two occurred that terrible war over Tārakā.

Then Brahmā became terrified of the untimely destruction of the cosmic egg. // 39

Restraining Rudra, who blazed with the splendour of the fire of cosmic dissolution, from battle,

the grandfather [Brahmā] himself gave Tārā back to [Bṛhaspati,] the descendant of Aṅgiras. // 4.1.15.40

Then, seeing an embryo inside her, Bṛhaspati said to Tārā:

“In no way must an embryo be borne by you in my place of conception.” // 41

She went to a clump of reeds and cast out the embryo.

As soon as he was born, the lordly child eclipsed the splendour of the gods. // 42

Then, falling into doubt, the foremost gods said to Tārā:

“Tell the truth: whose son is he—Soma’s or Bṛhaspati’s?” // 43

When, being questioned by the gods, Tārā did not speak because of great shame,

the boy of supreme brilliance began to curse her. // 44

Then Brahmā, restraining him, questioned Tārā to clear the doubt.

With folded hands she said to the grandfather [Brahmā], “Soma's.” // 45

Then the king, the lord of creatures [Soma], smelling the child on the crown of his head,

gave the wise boy the name Budha. // 46

Then, surpassing all the gods in fiery energy, beauty, and strength,

Budha, having taken leave of Soma and determined upon austerity,

went to Kāśī, the heap of liberation protected by the Lord of the Universe.

Having installed a liṅga there named Budheśvara after his own name,

the boy practiced exceedingly fierce austerity, contemplating in his heart

the fierce Śiva, who is adorned with the young crescent moon, for ten thousand years. // 49

Then the glorious Lord of the Universe, the ruler and creator of the universe,

arose with great magnificence from the great liṅga, Budheśvara. // 4.1.15.50

And Maheśvara, whose form is light, with a gracious mind,

said: “Choose a boon, O one of great intellect! You are the foremost of the wise! // 51

By this exceedingly great austerity of yours and by your constant devotion to the liṅga,

I am pleased, O greatly gentle one; there is nothing that cannot be given to you.” // 52

Hearing this speech, which resounded deep like a cloud

and was like the reviving of crops withered by drought,

as the boy opened his eyes and looked forward,

he then saw the three-eyed one, adorned with the crescent moon, in the liṅga. // 54

Budha said:

“Salutation to you whose self is pure! O you whose form is light, praise be to you!

O you whose form is the universe, praise to you! Salutation to you who transcend all forms! // 55

Salutation to the destroyer of all distress of those who bow down, whose self is auspicious!

Praise to you, the omniscient one! Praise be to you, the maker of all! // 56

Salutation to you, the compassionate one! Praise to you who are reachable by devotion!

To the giver of the fruits of austerities, whose form is austerity itself, salutation! // 57

O Śambhu! O Śiva! O beloved of Śivā! O peaceful one! O Śrīkaṇṭha! O bearer of the trident!

O moon-crested one! O Lord of Śarva! O Śaṃkara! O Īśvara! O Dhūrjaṭi! // 58

O bearer of the Pināka bow! O dweller on the mountain! O dark-throated one! O Sadāśiva!

O Mahādeva, praise to you! O God of Gods, praise be to you! // 59

I do not know how to compose a hymn of praise, O Maheśvara who delight in praise.

May I have unhesitating devotion to your two lotus feet! // 4.1.15.60

This alone is the boon, O Lord, if you are pleased, O Īśvara.

I do not choose any other boon from you, O ocean of nectar of compassion!” // 61

Then Maheśāna, delighted by that hymn of praise, said:

“O son of Rohiṇī, O fortunate one, O gentle one, O treasure of gentle words! // 62

Above the realm of the lunar mansions, your realm shall be located;

and among all the planets, you shall receive the highest worship. // 63

This liṅga installed by you will bestow wisdom on all,

will remove folly, O gentle one, and will grant residence in your realm.” // 64

Having spoken thus, the venerable Śambhu disappeared right there.

And Budha went to the heavenly realm through the grace of the God of Gods. // 65

The two gaṇas said:

In Kāśī, having acquired wisdom through worship of Budheśvara, a man, on reaching the fathomless ocean of saṃsāra,

would not drown; possessing the moonlike splendor that delights the eyes of good people, having a lovely face, he shall dwell here in the realm of Budha.

Having seen the Budheśvara liṅga east of Candreśvara,

a creature is never bereft of intellect, even at the hour of death.

While the two gaṇas were thus recounting the tale pertaining to the world of Budha,

the aerial chariot arrived at the unexcelled realm of Śukra.

Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, entitled 'Description of the Nakṣatra and Budha Realms', in the first half of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand verses.