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.
यो वै दानपतिर्दक्षः शत्रुपक्षक्षयावहः
He who was a master of gifts, skilled, and the destroyer of enemy hosts,
स कदाचिन्मृगान्हंतुं नृपः सेनावृतो ययौ
That king, surrounded by his army, once went to hunt wild beasts.
स जघान मृगांस्तत्र शरैराशीविषोपमैः ६.१७.
There he struck down those beasts with arrows like venomous serpents.
सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्गजान्मत्ताञ्च्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
He slew hundreds and thousands of lions, tigers, and maddened elephants.
न पपात धरापृष्ठे सशरो दुद्रुवे द्रुतम् प्रेरयामास वेगेन मनोमारुतवेगधृक्
None fell to the earth; with arrows in them, they swiftly fled, driven by the force of his mind and the speed of the wind.
ततः सैन्यं समुत्सज्य मृगं लिप्सुर्महीपतिः
Then the king, desiring to seize the beast, left his army behind.
कण्टकीबदरीप्रायं शाल्मलीवनसंकुलम्
That place was filled with forests of śālmalī trees, resembling thickets of thorny jujube bushes.
तत्र रूक्षाऽखिला भूमिर्निर्जला तमसा वृता
There, the entire ground was harsh, devoid of water, and shrouded in darkness.
ग्रीष्मे मध्यगते सूर्ये मृगाकृष्टः स पार्थिवः
When the sun had reached its zenith in summer, that king was drawn onward by the horse.
तेन तस्यानुगा भृत्याः सर्वे सुश्रांतवाहनाः
All his attendants, following him, had utterly exhausted their mounts.
सिंहव्याघ्रैस्तथा चान्यैः पतिता नष्टचेतनाः
There, they fell, losing consciousness, attacked by lions, tigers, and other beasts.
ततः सोऽपि महीपालः क्षुत्पिपासासमाकुलः
Then that king too was overwhelmed by hunger and thirst.
कांतारस्यांतमन्विच्छन्प्रेरयामास तं हयम् ६.१७.
Seeking the end of the wilderness, he sent the horse ahead.
ततः स नृपतिस्तेन वायुवेगेन वाजिना
Then, with that horse driven by the force of the wind, the king pressed on.
एवं तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य कांदिशीकेऽनवस्थिते
Thus, as the king wandered aimlessly in that desolate region,
सूत उवाच ततः सोऽपि महीपालः क्षुत्पिपासासमाकुलः
Sūta said: Then that king too was overwhelmed by hunger and thirst.
अथाऽपश्यद्वियत्स्थानात्स त्रीन्प्रेतान्सु दारुणान्
Then, from the sky, he saw three terrifying spirits.
तान्दृष्ट्वा भयसंत्रस्तो विशेषेण स भूपतिः
Seeing them, the king was seized by great fear.
के यूयं विकृताकारा मया दृष्टा न कर्हिचित्
"Who are you, with such strange forms? I have never seen you before."
विदूरथो नरेन्द्रोऽहं क्षुत्पिपासातिपीडितः
"I am King Vidūratha, tormented by severe hunger and thirst."