Skandapurana 5.249

The heavenly voice said: / It is impossible indeed to describe the greatness of the bilva leaf. / In brief, I shall tell you, O Mahendra; listen to it accurately. 1

The auspicious goddess, the Daughter of the Mountain, overcome with the fatigue of strolling, / had a drop of sweat arise on her forehead. 2

Flicked away by Bhavānī, it fell onto the ground. / This great tree arose on Mandara, the best of mountains. 3

Then the Daughter of the Mountain, wandering there in delight, came again; / seeing the tree standing in the forest, her eyes widened in astonishment. 4

And she asked the two companions, Jayā and Vijayā: / 'What is this divine great tree shining in the middle of the forest? / It appears lovely of form and indeed causes great delight.' 5

Jayā said: / 'O Goddess, this tree arose from your body, born from a drop of sweat. / Give it a name quickly; worshipped, it destroys sins.' 6

Pārvatī said: / 'Because, cleaving the surface of the earth, this excellent, great tree 7

stood up near me, therefore let this be the bilva. / Approaching this tree with devotion, the collection of leaves 8

he will gather, [and] he shall surely become a king on earth. / Whoever performs my worship with its leaves, full of faith, 9

whatever desire he contemplates, fulfillment of that arises for him. / Whoever, having seen bilva leaves, shall even show faith 10

in the rite for the purpose of worship, I am the giver of wealth [to him], no doubt. / If someone sets their mind upon consuming the tip of a leaf, / his thousands of sins will automatically dissolve away. 11

If a person applies the tip of a leaf to their head, / the torment of Yama will not cause him sorrow.' 12

Having spoken thus, Pārvatī, delighted, went to her own abode, / the goddess accompanied by her companions and attended by her gaṇas. 13

The heavenly voice said: / This bilva tree is eminent, pure, and the destroyer of sins. / The goddess Girijā resides at its root, there is no doubt in this. 14

On the trunk is goddess Dākṣāyaṇī, and on the branches is Maheśvarī; / on the leaves is goddess Pārvatī, [and] on the fruit Kātyāyanī is remembered. 15

Gaurī is declared to be on the bark, Aparṇā on the inner bark; / Durgā is declared to be on the flower, and Umā on the branch-joints. 16

And on all the thorns, nine crores in number / of Śaktis reside by order of Girijā for the protection of living beings. 17

They revere her and worship the eternal goddess with excellent leaves; / whatever desire one desires, its fulfillment will surely come to pass. 18

She is Maheśvarī, Girijā, Maheśvarī of pure form, the giver of liberation to people. / And seeing Hara residing in the palāśa, she assumed the form of the bilva by her own play. 19

Thus ends the two hundred and fiftieth chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Origin of Bilva' in the Story of Paijavana, in the Greatness of Cāturmāsya, in the Dialogue of Brahmā and Nārada, in the Story of the One Reclining on Śeṣa, in the Greatness of Hāṭakeśvara Sacred Field, in the sixth Nāgarakhaṇḍa, in the Skandamahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses. 250