अद्यैव विप्रशार्दूल चैत्रशुक्लांत उत्तमः
Today itself, O tiger among Brahmins, is the best at the end of the bright half of Chaitra.
तत्रोपवासयुक्तस्य सम्यक्स्नातस्य तत्क्षणात्
There, for one who is fasting and has bathed properly, at that very moment—
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः
Having spoken thus, the Blessed Lord then became invisible.
ततश्च तत्क्षणाज्जातौ हस्तौ तस्य यथा पुरा
Then, in that very moment, his hands were restored just as before.
एवं तद्धरणीपृष्ठे तीर्थं जातं नृपोत्तम
In this way, O best of kings, a sacred place arose there on the earth.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र तत्र स्नानं समाचर
Therefore, O king of kings, you too should perform bathing there.
भविष्यसि न संदेहः सर्वरोगविवर्जितः
You shall, without doubt, become free from all diseases.
चित्रासंस्थे निशानाथे संप्राप्ता च चतुर्दशी
When the fourteenth day arrived, with the moon in Citrā and night at its height,
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणा भूपं समादाय च तत्क्षणात् 6.11.
Then those brāhmaṇas, at that very moment, brought the king.
ततः स मनसि ध्यात्वा कुष्ठव्याधिपरिक्षयम्
Thereupon, he meditated in his mind on the destruction of his leprosy.
ततः कुष्ठविनिर्मुक्तो द्वादशार्कसमप्रभः । निष्क्रांतः सलिलात्तस्माद्धर्षेण महतान्वितः
Then, freed from leprosy and shining like twelve suns, he emerged from that water, filled with great joy.
ततः प्रणम्य तान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान्
Then, bowing to all those brāhmaṇas, masters of the Vedas,
प्रसादेन हि युष्माकं मुक्तोऽहं ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः
He said, 'By your grace, O foremost brāhmaṇas, I am freed.'
तस्मान्नाहं करिष्यामि राज्यं ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः
Therefore, O excellent brāhmaṇas, I will not rule the kingdom.
एतद्राज्यं च देशं च हस्त्यश्वादि तथापरम्
This kingdom, this land, and all else—elephants, horses, and more—
ममैवानुग्रहार्थाय दयां कृत्वा बृहत्तराम्
All this, for the sake of my own welfare, I entrust to you with even greater compassion.
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः न वयं रक्षितुं शक्ता राज्यं पार्थिवसत्तम
The brāhmaṇas said: 'O best of kings, we are not able to protect the kingdom.'
जामदग्न्येन रामेण पुरा दत्ता वसुन्धरा
'Once, the earth was given by Rāma, son of Jamadagni.'
सा भूयोपि हृताऽस्माकं क्षत्रियैर्बलवत्तरैः 6.11.
'But again, it was taken from us by powerful kṣatriyas.'
तपस्थितोऽपि कार्येऽत्र न भीः कार्या कथंचन
'Though engaged in austerity, one should not fear in this matter under any circumstance.'
अवश्यं यदि ते श्रद्धा विद्यते दानसंभवा । क्षेत्रेऽत्रापि महापुण्ये कृत्वा देहि पुरोत्तमम्
If you truly possess faith and the means to give, then here, in this most sacred place, make an offering and give the best city.
सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां प्राकारपरिखान्वितम् गृहस्थधर्मिणः सर्वे स्वाध्यायनिरता सदा
For all the foremost Brahmins, with ramparts and moats, all householders devoted always to study were present.
नगरं कल्पयामास स्थाने तत्र महत्तमम्
He established a great city in that most excellent place.
प्राकारेण सुतुंगेन परिखाद्येन सर्वतः
With lofty ramparts and deep moats on every side,
त्रिकचत्वरसंशुद्धं शोभितं सर्वतो ध्वजैः
Purified at the three crossroads, adorned everywhere with banners,
मत्तवारणकोपेतैर्बहुभिर्भूभिरेव च
And filled with many mighty elephants and kings.
ततो गृहाणि सर्वाणि पूरयित्वा स भूमिपः
Then the king filled all the houses,
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः कुलीनेभ्यो वेदविद्भ्यो विशेषतः
Especially with noble Brahmins, those learned in the Vedas.
यथाज्येष्ठं यथाश्रेष्ठं प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ ततः 6.11.
According to seniority and excellence, after washing their feet,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराणएकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये शंखतीर्थोत्पत्तिमाहात्म्यवर्णने चमत्कारभूपतिना व्राह्मणेभ्यो नगरदानवर्णनंनामैकादशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-eight thousand verses, in the sixth Nāgarakhaṇḍa, in the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara region, in the account of the origin and glory of Śaṃkhatīrtha, this is the eleventh chapter, called 'The Description of the Gift of a City to Brahmins by King Camatkāra.'