इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां प्रथमे माहेश्वर खण्डे कौमारिकाखंडे कोटितीर्थादिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रिपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-third chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Koṭitīrtha and Other Holy Places,' in the Kaumārikā section of the first Māheśvara book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Mahāpurāṇa called Skanda.
तत्र नाहं त्यजाम्यंग च्छत्रदण्डविभूषिताम्
There, O dear one, I do not abandon those adorned with umbrella and staff.
कार्तिकस्य तु या शुक्ला भवत्येकादशी शुभा
Indeed, the auspicious eleventh day of the bright half of Kārtika occurs.
पृच्छतस्तं च मे विप्र न क्रोधं कर्तुमर्हसि
O brāhmaṇa, as you ask me, you should not become angry.
सदा त्वं मोक्षधर्मेषु परिनिष्ठां परां गतः
You have always attained the highest perfection in the dharmas leading to liberation.
त्यक्तनिंदास्तुतिर्मौनी मोक्षस्थः परिकीर्त्यसे
You are described as one who has renounced blame and praise, silent, and established in liberation.
सौदामिनीव विचरन्दृश्यसे प्राज्ञसंमतः
You are seen, esteemed by the wise, moving like lightning.
बहूनां हि सहस्राणि देवगंधर्वरक्षसाम्
For there are many thousands of gods, gandharvas, and rākṣasas.
कस्मात्तदेषा चेष्टा ते संदेहं मे हर द्विज
Why is this your conduct? Remove my doubt, O twice-born one.
प्रहसन्निव बाभ्रव्यवदनं स निरैक्षत
He looked at Bābhravya’s face, as if smiling.
स च बाभ्रव्यनामा वै हारीतस्यान्वयोद्भवः 1.2.54.
And that Bābhravya by name was indeed born in the lineage of Hārīta.
स च ज्ञात्वा महाबुद्धिर्नारदस्य मनीषितम्
And knowing the intention of Nārada, that man of great wisdom—
सर्वोऽपि चात्र वृत्तांते संशयं याति मानवः
Every person indeed falls into doubt regarding this entire event.
तदहं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा कृष्णान्मया श्रुतम्
Therefore, I shall tell you as I have heard it from Kṛṣṇa.
महीसागरयात्रायां कृष्णस्तत्राययौ प्रभुः
During the pilgrimage to the meeting of earth and ocean, Kṛṣṇa, the Lord, arrived there.
रामेण रौक्मिणेयेन युयुधानादिभिस्तदा
At that time, with Rāma, the son of Rohiṇī, and Yuyudhāna and others.
पिंडदानादिकं कृत्वा दत्त्वा दानानि भूरिशः
Having performed offerings to the ancestors and other rites, and having given abundant gifts.
स्नानं कृत्वा कोटितीर्थे जयादित्यं समर्च्य च
After bathing at Koṭitīrtha and worshipping Jayāditya.
उग्रसेनेन राज्ञा वै पूर्वजेन जटायुना उग्रसेनो महाराजः कृष्णं प्रोवाच संसदि
Then King Ugrasena, the elder, along with Jaṭāyu, addressed Kṛṣṇa in the assembly.
योऽयं नाम महाबुद्धिर्नारदो विश्ववंदितः कलिप्रियश्च कस्माद्वा कस्मात्त्वय्यतिप्रीतिमान् ।। 1.2.54.
This Nārada, renowned for great wisdom and honored by the world, why is he so fond of Kali and why is he especially devoted to you?
दक्षेण तु पुरा शप्तो नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
Formerly, the eminent sage Nārada was cursed by Dakṣa.
सृष्टिमार्गांस्तु तान्वीक्ष्य नारदेन विचालितान्
Observing the paths of creation disturbed by Nārada.
पैशुन्य वक्ता च तथा द्वितीयानां प्रचालनात्
And because he spoke slander and caused the agitation of others.
निराकर्तुं समर्थोऽपि मुनिर्मेने तथैव तत्
Though capable of refuting it, the sage considered it proper to accept thus.
विनाशकालं चावेक्ष्य कलिं वर्धयते यतः
Because, seeing the time of destruction, he promotes the age of Kali.
भ्रमतोऽपि च सर्वत्र नास्य यस्मात्पृथङ्मनः यच्च प्रीतिर्मयि तस्य परमा तच्छृणुष्व च
And though he wanders everywhere, his mind is not separate; and as for his supreme affection for me, listen to that as well.
अहं हि सर्वदा स्तौमि नारदं देवदर्शनम्
Indeed, I always praise Nārada, the seer of the gods.
श्रुतचारित्रयोर्जाता यस्याहंता न विद्यते
In whom, having heard of good conduct, the sense of 'I-ness' does not arise.
अरतिक्रोधचापल्ये भयं नैतानि यस्य च
In whom there is no fear arising from aversion, anger, or restlessness.
कामाद्वा यदि वा लोभाद्वाचं यो नान्यथा वदेत् 1.2.54.
Whether from desire or from greed, he does not speak otherwise than what is true.