धर्मार्थकाम सिद्धिश्च मोक्षसिद्धिरनुत्तमा
Success in righteousness, wealth, and desire, and the unsurpassed attainment of liberation,
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
This, O goddess, I have told you—the power that destroys sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखंडे चतुरशीति लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये सिद्धेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकोनषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Siddheśvara,' in the section on the eighty-four liṅgas, in the fifth Avanti Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
विद्धि पापहरं देवि समीहितकरं सदा
Know, O goddess, that it always destroys sin and fulfills desires.
सुगतिर्नाम विप्रेन्द्रो बभूव द्वापरे युगे
There was a Brāhmaṇa named Sugati who lived in the Dvāpara Yuga.
मतंगस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभूद्बाल्याद्दारुणतां गतः दण्डकाष्ठेन सहसा ताडयामास चापलात्
His son was Mataṅga, who from childhood became fierce; out of mischief, he suddenly struck with a stick of wood.
तं तु तीव्राहतं दृष्ट्वा गर्दभी पुत्रगृद्धिनी
Seeing him grievously struck, the she-donkey, desiring her son,
ब्राह्मणे दारुणं नास्ति मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते
There is nothing cruel in a Brāhmaṇa; a Brāhmaṇa is said to be friendly.
स्वकीयां भजते चाथ प्रकृतिं मानवः सदा
Yet a man always follows his own nature.
दंडकाष्ठं परित्यज्य रासभीं प्रत्यभाषत
Abandoning the stick, he then spoke to the she-donkey.
कथं मां वेत्सि चंडालं यायावरकुलोद्भवम्
How do you know me, a Caṇḍāla, born in the lineage of wanderers?
ततस्त्वमसि चांडालो ब्राह्मण्यं तेन ते गतम्
Therefore, you are a Caṇḍāla; by that, your Brāhmaṇahood is lost.
एवमुक्तो मतंगस्तु पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् 5.2.60.
Thus addressed, Mataṅga spoke these words to his father.
गर्दभ्या कथितं सम्यक्तस्मात्तप्स्ये महत्तपः
The she-ass has spoken rightly; therefore, I shall undertake great austerity.
स गत्वा च ततोऽरण्यमतप्यत महत्तपः
Then, having gone to the forest, he performed severe austerity.
तं तथा तपसा युक्तमुवाच हरिवाहनः वरं ददामि तेऽहं तं वृणीष्व त्वं यदिच्छसि
As he was thus engaged in austerity, the bearer of the discus spoke to him: 'I grant you a boon; choose whatever you desire.'
देहि मे शाश्वतं शक्र वर एष वृतो मया
'O Śakra, grant me eternal status—this is the boon I have chosen.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं तमुवाच पुरंदरः
Hearing these words, Purandara spoke to him.
नाशमेष्यसि दुर्बुद्धे तदुपारम मा चिरम्
'You will perish, O wicked-minded one; therefore, cease at once.'
एवमुक्तो मतंगस्तु संशितात्मा यत व्रतः
Thus addressed, Mataṅga, resolute and firm in his vow,
तमुवाच ततः शक्रः पुनरेव महायशाः
Then Śakra, renowned among the great, spoke to him again.
न हि शक्यं प्राप्तुमेवमचिरान्नाशमेष्यसि
'It is not possible to obtain this; soon you will perish.'
एवमुक्तो मतंगस्तु संशितात्मा दृढव्रतः 5.2.60.
Thus addressed, Mataṅga, resolute and steadfast in his vow,
तदेव च पुनर्वाक्यमुवाच बलवृत्रहा
Again, the slayer of Vṛtra spoke those very words.
अन्यं वरं वृणीष्व त्वं मा कृथास्तत्स्वयं श्रमम्
'Choose another boon; do not undergo this hardship for that.'
अतिष्ठत गयां गत्वा सोंगुष्ठेन शतं समाः
He stood at Gayā for a hundred years on his big toe.
त्वगस्थिभूतो धर्मात्मा तताप परमं तपः
Having become skin and bones, righteous in spirit, he performed supreme austerity.
वराणामीश्वरो दाता सर्वभूतहिते रतः
The lord of boons, the bestower, devoted to the welfare of all beings,
ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्ल्लभं तात ह्यसतां पापशीलिनाम्
O dear one, brahminhood is difficult to attain for the wicked and sinful.
ब्राह्मणे सर्वभूतानां योगक्षेमः समाहितः
In the brahmin, the welfare and sustenance of all beings is established.