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.
अपरं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः सर्वपातकनाशनम्
Another, O best of Brahmins, destroys all sins.
अयने दक्षिणे प्राप्ते यस्तत्पूज्य समाहितः
When the southern solstice arrives, whoever worships it with concentration—
स मृतोऽप्ययने याम्ये तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्
Even if he dies during the southern solstice, he attains the supreme abode of Vishnu.
तथा चैवोत्तरे प्राप्ते पूजयित्वा यथाविधि सोऽपि विष्णोः पदं पुण्यं प्राप्य संजायते सुखी
Likewise, when the northern solstice arrives, having worshipped according to the proper method, he too attains the sacred abode of Vishnu and is born happy.
कथं निवेद्यते तत्र सम्यगात्माऽ यनद्वये
How is the self properly offered there in both solstices?
तस्मिन्दृष्टेऽथवा स्पृष्टे यत्फलं लभ्यते नरैः
When it is seen or touched, what fruit is obtained by men?
तदा क्रमैस्त्रिभिर्व्याप्तं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
Then, by three steps, the three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings, were pervaded.
हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे संन्यस्तः प्रथमः क्रमः
In the Hatakeshvara field, the first step was placed.
तृतीयस्य समुद्योगं यदा चक्रे स चक्रधृक्
When the wielder of the discus undertook the effort for the third step—
पादाग्रेणाथ संभिन्ने ब्रह्मांडे निर्मलं जलम् 6.24.
With the tip of his foot, when the cosmic egg was pierced, pure water emerged.
ब्रह्मलोकं तदा कृत्स्नं प्लावयित्वा जलं हि तत् मत्स्यकच्छपसंकीर्णं ग्राहयूथैः समाकुलम्
Then, that water flooded the entire world of Brahma, teeming with fish, turtles, and crowded with groups of aquatic creatures.
ततः प्रभृति सा लोके गंगा विष्णुपदी स्मृता
From that time onward, in the world, the Ganga is known as Vishnu's river.
एवं विष्णोः पदं तत्र संजातं मुनिसत्तमाः
In this way, O best of sages, the sacred footprint of Vishnu appeared there.
यस्तस्यां श्रद्धया युक्तः स्नानं कृत्वा यथोदितम्
Whoever, endowed with faith, bathes there as prescribed,
यस्तत्रकुरुते श्राद्धं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः
Whoever performs the śrāddha there, fully imbued with faith,
माघमासे नरः स्नानं प्रातरुत्थाय तत्र यः
Whoever, rising early in the morning during the month of Māgha, bathes there,
अथवा वत्सरं यावत्क्षणं कृत्वात्र भक्तितः
Or even one who, with devotion, remains there for a moment up to a year,
यस्यास्थीनि जले तत्र क्षिप्यंते मनुजस्य च
Whose bones are cast into the water there, even of a human,
अपि पक्षिपतंगा ये पशवः कृमयो मृगाः
Even birds, insects, animals, worms, and deer,
तेऽपि पापविनिर्मुक्ता देहांते चातिदुर्लभम् 6.24.
They too, freed from sin, at the end of their bodies attain what is extremely rare.