तस्मात्त्वं देहि मे पुत्रान्वंशोद्धारक्ष मान्विभो
Therefore, grant me sons, O Lord, capable of continuing the lineage.
त्वया चैव सदा लिंगे स्थेयमत्र सुरोत्तम
And by you, O best of gods, the liṅga must always be established here.
यो मामत्र स्थितं मर्त्यः पूजयिष्यति भक्तितः
Whoever, with devotion, worships me here while I am established,
यो मे लिंगस्य याम्याशां स्थित्वा मंत्रं जपिष्यति
Whoever, standing in the southern direction of my liṅga, recites the mantra,
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः
Having spoken thus, Mahādeva then became invisible.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तल्लिंगं यत्नतो द्विजाः
Therefore, with all effort, O twice-born, that liṅga must be tended with care.
षडक्षरेण मन्त्रेण कीर्तनीयं च शक्तितः ६.३०.
With the six-syllabled mantra, it should be praised according to one's ability.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये सिद्धेश्वरोत्पत्तिवृत्तान्तवर्णनंनाम त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirtieth chapter, named 'The Account of the Origin of Siddheśvara,' in the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra Māhātmya, in the Nāgara section, in the sixth book of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
यत्र स्नातस्य सर्पाणां न भयं जायते क्वचित्
Where, for one who has bathed, there is never any fear from serpents.
तत्र श्रावणपञ्चम्यां यो नरः स्नानमाचरेत्
There, on the fifth day of Śrāvaṇa, whoever performs bathing,
तत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं मातुः शापप्रपीडितैः
There, in former times, austerities were performed by those afflicted by their mother's curse.
कम्बलाश्वतरौ नागौ तथा ख्यातौ धरातले
Kambala and Aśvatara, renowned serpents, were thus known upon the earth.
अनंतो वासुकिश्चैव तक्षकश्च महावलः
Ananta, Vāsuki, and also Takṣaka of great strength,
ऐरावतस्तथा शंखः पुण्डरीको महाविषः
Airāvata, likewise Śaṅkha, Puṇḍarīka, and Mahāviṣa,
एतेषां पुत्रपौत्राश्च तेषामपि विभूतिभिः
Their sons and grandsons, with their various powers,
अथ ते कुटिला दुष्टा भक्षयंति सदा जनान्
Then those crooked and wicked ones always devoured people.
ततः प्रजा इमाः सर्वा ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः
Therefore, all these beings sought refuge with Brahmā.
यावन्न शून्यतां याति सकलं वसुधातलम् ६.३१.
Before the entire surface of the earth became empty,
अथ तानब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा शेषाद्यान्नवनायकान्
Then Brahmā addressed those leaders among the serpents, beginning with Śeṣa.
अथ तेषां बहुत्वाच्च नैव रक्षा प्रजायते
But because of their great number, protection was not possible.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा तानाहूय कुलाधिपान्
Then, his mind overcome by anger, he summoned those chiefs of the clans.
भक्षयंति यतः सर्पा अपराधं विना प्रजाः
Because the serpents devour people without any offense,
तच्छ्रुत्वा वेपमानास्ते सर्पाणां नवनायकाः
Hearing this, the new leaders of the serpents trembled.
ब्रह्मोवाच॥ यदि नाम मया सृष्टा यूयं दिष्ट्या विषोल्बणाः
Brahmā said: Even if you were created by me, and by fate are full of poison,
अपराधं विना कस्माद्भक्षयध्व इमाः प्रजाः ॥ ६.३१.
Why do you devour these beings without any offense?
अथवा संप्रयच्छस्व स्थानं मानुषवर्जितम्
Otherwise, assign a place for yourselves, excluding humans.
पारिक्षितमखे तस्मिन्सर्पाणां चित्रभानुना
At the sacrifice of Parīkṣit, among the serpents, by Citrabhānu,
यथा न संततिच्छेदो जायते प्रपितामह
So that there is no interruption of the lineage, O great-grandfather.
स संतानकृते भार्यां भूमावन्वेषयिष्यति
He will seek a wife upon the earth for the sake of progeny.
भाविनी च भवद्वंशे जरत्कन्या सुशोभना
And in your lineage, a beautiful elderly maiden will be born.