एवं तत्र समुत्पन्नं तीर्थं तद्बालमंडनम् ॥। स्वामिद्रोहकृतात्पापान्मुच्यंते यत्र मानवाः
Thus, that holy place called Bālamaṇḍana arose there; at that place, people are freed from the sin of offending their master.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं बालमंडनसंभवम्
All this has been told to you—the origin of Bālamaṇḍana.
आश्विनस्य सिते पक्षे दशम्यादि यथाक्रमम्
In the bright fortnight of Āśvina, beginning from the tenth day, in due order—
तीर्थानां स हि सर्वेषां स्नानजं लभते फलम् ६.२२.
There, one obtains the merit of bathing at all the sacred fords.
तस्मिन्काले सहस्राक्षः समागच्छति भूतले
At that time, the thousand-eyed one descends to the earth.
यावद्भूमितले शक्रस्तिष्ठत्येवं द्विजोत्तमाः
As long as Śakra remains on earth in this way, O best of twice-born—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तस्मिन्काले विशेषतः
Therefore, with every effort, especially at that time,
अत्र श्लोकौ पुरा गीतौ नारदैन सुर षिंणा
Here are verses formerly sung by Nārada among the gods and sages:
बालमंडनके स्नात्वा शक्रेश्वरमथेक्षयेत् स पापैर्मुच्यते सर्वैराजन्ममरणाद्भुवि
After bathing at Bālāmāṇḍana, one should behold the Lord of Śakra; he is freed from all sins, O king, from birth and death on earth.
प्रभावात्तस्य तीर्थस्य सत्यमेतद्द्विजोत्तमाः
By the power of that sacred place, this is true, O best of twice-born.
सूत उवाच अस्ति पुण्यतमं ख्यातं समस्ते धरणीतले । तत्र ये मानवास्तीर्थे सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्विताः
Sūta said: There is a most holy place, renowned on the entire earth; there, those people who, with proper faith, approach the sacred site—
मध्ये स्थिते न ते यांति तिर्यग्योनौ कथंचन
While remaining there, they never go to a lower birth, in any way.
कृतघ्ना नास्तिकाश्चौरा मर्यादाभेदकास्तथा विमानवरमारूढाः स्तूयमानाश्च किंनरैः
Those who are ungrateful, atheists, thieves, and violators of boundaries, ascend to excellent aerial chariots, praised by the Kinnaras.
किं प्रभावं समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि नः
What is its power? Tell us; for we have great curiosity.
नानाविहंगसंघुष्टे नानावृक्षसमाकुले
Filled with many flocks of birds, crowded with various trees,
समायाता महारौद्रा लुब्ध काश्चापपाणयः
There arrived fierce hunters, greedy and bearing wicked weapons.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे दृष्टं मृगयूथं तरोरधः
At that moment, a herd of deer was seen beneath a tree.
अथ ताँल्लुब्धकान्दृष्ट्वा दूरतोऽपि भयातुराः
Then, seeing those hunters even from afar, they were seized by fear.
अथ ते सन्निधौ दृष्ट्वा गंभीरं सलिलाशयम् ६.२३.
Then, seeing a deep reservoir of water nearby,
ततस्तत्सलिलस्यांतस्ते मृगाः सर्व एव हि
All those deer entered into that water.
अथ तान्मानुषीभूतान्पप्रच्छुर्लुब्धका मृगान् केन मार्गेण निर्यातं तस्माद्वदत मा चिरम्
Then the hunters, seeing them turned into humans, questioned the deer: 'By what path did you depart from there? Tell us quickly.'
तीर्थस्याऽस्य प्रभावेन प्राप्ताः सत्यं न संशयः
By the power of this sacred place, you have attained this, truly, without doubt.
स्नानमात्रात्ततः सर्वे दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपनाः
By merely bathing, all of them were adorned with divine garlands and ointments.
स्नानमात्रेण ते प्राप्ता लुब्धकास्तादृशं वपुः
By merely bathing, the hunters attained such a form.
तथा मानुष्यमापन्ना मृगास्तोयावगाहनात्
Thus, having assumed human form, the deer entered the water.
आच्छन्नं पांसुभिः कृत्स्नं वायुना शक्रशासनात्
Completely covered with earth by the wind, at Indra's command.
वल्मीकरंध्रमासाद्य तन्निष्क्रांतं पुनर्द्विजाः
Having reached the ant-hill's opening, the twice-born emerged from it.
यत्र स्नातः पुरा सद्यस्त्रिशंकुः पृथिवीपतिः ६.२३.
There, once upon a time, King Trishanku had bathed.
एतस्मात्कारणात्तत्र स्नाताः सारंगलुब्धकाः
For this reason, the hunters of deer bathed there.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये मृगतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामत्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-third chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of the Deer Tirtha,' in the section on the greatness of the Hatakeshvara Kshetra, in the Nagarakhanda of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.