करोषि मंत्रिणा सार्धं पुरस्याऽस्य प्रदक्षिणाम् ६.१४.
You, together with your minister, should circumambulate this city.
अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे सुतीर्थानि संति पार्थिवसत्तम ॥ तथाऽन्यानि प्रसिद्धानि देवतायतनानि च
In this region, O best of kings, there are excellent sacred places, as well as other renowned shrines of the deities.
आदरस्तेषु वै राजन्नास्ति स्वल्पो ऽपि कर्हिचित्
O king, you have never shown even the slightest respect towards them.
स प्रोवाच वचो भूपः किंचिद्व्रीडासमन्वितः
Then the king, somewhat embarrassed, spoke these words.
यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजश्रेष्ठा युष्माभिः सांप्रतं मम
O best of Brahmins, that which you have just now asked me,
तथाऽपि हि प्रकर्तव्यं युष्माकं सत्यमेव हि
Still, it must indeed be done as you truthfully say.
वृत्तांतं तन्मुनींद्राणां तेषां ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः
O best of Brahmins, the account of those great sages—
यथा नष्टः पशुस्तस्य कृता यद्वदवेक्षणा ॥ यथा प्रदक्षिणा जाता चमत्कारपुरस्य तु
Just as the search was made for his lost animal, so too was the circumambulation of Camatkārapura performed.
जातिस्मृतिर्यथा जाता प्राक्तनी तत्प्रभावतः
And just as the memory of a previous birth arose, due to that very power.
तच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयः सर्वे प्रहृष्टाः पृथिवीपतेः
Hearing this, all the sages became delighted with the king.
समुत्थाय ततश्चक्रुः पुरस्तस्याः प्रदक्षिणाम् ६.१४.
Then, rising up, they circumambulated that city.
गताश्च परमां सिद्धिं तत्प्रभावात्सुदुर्लभाम्
And by that power, they attained the highest and most difficult perfection.
सोऽपि राजा स मन्त्री च जातौ वैमानिकौ सुरौ
That king and his minister also became celestial beings, moving in the sky.
सूत उवाच तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन त्यक्त्वाऽन्या निखिलाः क्रियाः
Sūta said: Therefore, abandoning all other actions completely, with every effort—
किं दानैः किं क्रियाकांडैः किं यज्ञैः किं व्रतैरपि
What is the use of gifts, of ritual acts, of sacrifices, or even of vows?
अग्निष्टोमादयो यज्ञाः सर्वे संपूर्णदक्षिणाः
All the sacrifices beginning with Agniṣṭoma, performed with full fees,
चान्द्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि तथा सांतपनानि च
The Cāndrāyaṇa, the Kṛcchra, and likewise the Sāṃtapana penances,
प्रभासाद्यानि तीर्थानि गङ्गाद्याः सरितस्तथा
The holy places beginning with Prabhāsa, and the rivers beginning with Gaṅgā—
भूमिदानानि सर्वाणि धर्माः सर्वे दयादिकाः
All gifts of land, and all virtues such as compassion,
तत्र राजर्षयः पूर्वं प्रभूताः सिद्धिमागताः
There, in former times, royal sages abounded and attained perfection.
तत्र कालवशान्नष्टास्तेऽपि प्राप्ता दिवालयम्
There, too, those who were lost due to the force of time have reached the celestial abode.
श्रूयतां परमं गुह्यं तस्य क्षेत्रस्य संभवम् ६.१६.
Listen to the supreme secret: the origin of that sacred field.
हाटकेश्वरजं क्षेत्रं पुनाति स्मरणादपि
The field born of Haṭakeśvara purifies even by mere remembrance.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये रक्तशृङ्गसांनिध्यसेवनफलश्रैष्ठ्यवर्णनंनाम षोडशोऽ ध्यायः
Thus ends the sixteenth chapter, named 'The Excellence of the Fruits of Association and Service at Raktaśṛṅga,' in the section on the greatness of Haṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
तत्क्षेत्रस्य प्रमाणं यत्तदस्माकं प्रकीर्तय । यानि तत्र च पुण्यानि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Describe to us the extent of that field, and the holy places and shrines found there.
आयामव्यासतश्चैव चमत्कारपुरोत्तमम्
Its length and breadth are truly remarkable and supreme among holy sites.
प्राच्यां तस्य गयाशीर्षं पश्चिमेन हरेः पदम्
To the east of it is Gayāśīrṣa, and to the west, the Foot of Hari.
हाटकेश्वर संज्ञं तु पूर्वमासीद्द्विजोत्तमाः
Formerly, O best of twice-born, it was known by the name Haṭakeśvara.
यतः प्रभृति विप्रेभ्यो दत्तं तेन महात्मना
From that time, it was given by that great soul to the Brāhmaṇas.
माहात्म्यं तस्य नो ब्रूहि सूतपुत्र सविस्तरम्
O Sūtaputra, tell us in detail the greatness of that place.