तथाऽक्षयास्तु मे देव सृष्टिस्तव प्रसादतः
Thus, by your favor, O god, may my creation be imperishable.
परं सर्वेषु कृत्येषु यज्ञार्हा न भविष्यति
But among all actions, none shall be worthy of sacrifice.
??? एवमुक्त्वा समादाय त्रिशंकुं प्रपितामहः
Having thus spoken, the Grandfather took Triśaṃku.
इति स्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठेनागरखंडे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये त्रिशंकूपाख्याने त्रिशंकुस्वर्गप्राप्तिवर्णनंनाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventh chapter, called 'The Description of Triśaṃku's Attainment of Heaven,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the Triśaṃku story, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
सशरीरे द्विजश्रेष्ठा विश्वामित्रसमुद्यमात् ॥ ६.८.
By the effort of Viśvāmitra, O best of twice-born, (Triśaṃku) ascended with his body.
तत्तीर्थं ख्यातिमायातं समस्ते भुवनत्रये
That holy place has become renowned throughout the three worlds.
अस्पृष्टं कलिदोषेण तथान्यैरुपपातकैः
It is untouched by the fault of the Kali age and by other great sins.
यस्तत्र त्यजति प्राणाञ्छ्रद्धा युक्तेन चेतसा
Whoever gives up their life there with a mind full of faith—
कृमिपक्षिपतंगा ये पशवः पक्षिणो मृगाः
All the creatures such as worms, birds, insects, animals, and deer,
स्नानं ये तत्र कुर्वंति श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
who bathe there with minds purified by faith,
घर्मार्त्ता वा तृषार्ता वा येऽवगाहंति तज्जलम्
or those who, tormented by heat or thirst, immerse themselves in those waters,
विश्वामित्रोऽपि तद्दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
even Viśvāmitra, seeing this, recognized the supreme greatness of that sacred place.
तथान्ये मुनयः शांतास्त्यक्त्वा तीर्थानि दूरतः
Likewise, other tranquil sages, having abandoned distant sacred places,
तथैव मनुजाः सर्वे दूरादागत्य सत्वराः ६.८.
and all people, too, came quickly from afar in the same way.
एवं तस्य प्रभावेण तीर्थस्य द्विजसत्तमाः
Thus, by the power of that sacred place, O best of twice-born,
अग्निष्टोमादिका सर्वाः समुच्छेदं गताः क्रियाः
all rites such as Agniṣṭoma and others were rendered obsolete.
न यच्छति तथा दानं न च तीर्थं निषेवते
He neither gives gifts in that way nor frequents other sacred places,
ततः प्रगच्छति स्वर्गं विमानवरमाश्रितः
yet thereafter he attains heaven, taking refuge in a splendid celestial vehicle.
ततः प्रपूरिताः सर्वे स्वर्गलोका नरैर्द्विजाः
Then all the heavenly worlds were filled with people, O twice-born,
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे यज्ञभागविवर्जिताः
so that all the hosts of gods, deprived of their shares of sacrifice,
हाटकेश्वरमाहात्म्यात्स्वर्गलोकः प्रपूरितः
saw the heavenly realm filled because of the greatness of Hāṭakeśvara.
तस्मात्तत्क्रियतां कर्म येनोच्छेदं प्रगच्छति
Therefore, perform that act by which this cessation will occur.
ततः संवर्तको वायुः शक्रादेशात्समंततः
Then, at Indra's command, the wind of dissolution blew everywhere.
एवं नाशमनुप्राप्ते तस्मिंस्तीर्थे स्थलोच्चये ६.८.
Thus, when that sacred place was destroyed and the ground was raised,
ततः कालेन महता वल्मीकः समपद्यत
after a long time, an anthill arose there.
अथ पातालतो नागास्तेन मार्गेण कौतुकात्
Then, out of curiosity, serpents came from the netherworld along that path.
तत्र ते मानवान्भोगान्भुक्त्वा चैव यथेच्छया
There, having enjoyed human pleasures as they wished,
ततो नागबिलः ख्यातः स सर्वस्मिन्धरातले
then the Nāga-cave, renowned throughout the earth,
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य भगवान्पाकशासनः
At some point in time, the revered lord Yama,
ततः पितामहादेशं लब्ध्वा मार्गेण तेन सः
then, having received the command of the Grandfather (Brahmā), by that path,