एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्व परिपृच्छसि
All this has been told to you, just as you have asked me.
यस्त्वेतत्पठते भक्त्या श्लाघते वाऽथ यो नरः
But whoever recites this with devotion, or praises it—such a man—
यत्ख्यातिमगमत्पूर्वं सकाशाद्दाशवर्गतः
That which previously became renowned among the group of servants,
पुराऽऽसीद्रजको नाम्ना शमिलाक्षो महीपते
Long ago, O King, there was a washerman named Śamilākṣa.
अथासौ भयमापन्नो ज्ञात्वा वस्त्रविडंबनम्
Then, having realized the disgrace concerning the clothes, he became afraid.
अथ तस्य सुता राजन्दाशकन्यासखी शुभा
O King, his daughter, who was a friend of the servant-girls and auspicious,
तस्यै निवेदयामास भयं वस्त्रसमुद्भवम्
He informed her of the fear that had arisen from the matter of the clothes.
दाशकन्यापि दुःखेन तस्या दुःखसमन्विता
The servant-girl too, sharing in her sorrow, was distressed.
ध्रुवं तेन कृतेनैव निर्भयं ते च ते पितुः
Surely, by this very act, you and your father will be free from fear.
अत्रास्ति निर्झरं सुभ्रूरर्बुदे वरवर्णिनि
Here, O beautiful one with lovely brows, there is a waterfall in Arbuda.
यच्चान्यदपि तत्रैव क्षिप्यते सलिले शुभे
And whatever else is cast into that pure water there,
सर्वेषामेव दाशानां तस्य तोयस्य मज्जनात् जले प्रक्षालयेत्क्षिप्रं प्रयास्यंति सुशुक्लताम् ॥ 7.3.23.
By immersing all the servants' garments in that water, they are quickly cleansed and become very white.
त्वयाऽत्र न भयं कार्यं गत्वा तातं निवारय
You should not be afraid here; go and restrain your father.
जनकाय सुता तूर्णं ततोऽसौ तुष्टिमाप्तवान्
The daughter quickly informed her father, and he became satisfied.
प्रातरुत्थाय तूर्णं स निर्झरं तमुपाद्रवत्
Rising early in the morning, he quickly approached that waterfall.
तस्मिंस्तोयेतिशुक्लत्वं गतानि बहुलां ततः
There, after being in the water, many garments attained whiteness.
अथासौ विस्मयाविष्टस्तानि चादाय सत्वरः
Then, filled with amazement, he swiftly took them up.
ततो विस्मयमापन्नः स राजा तत्र निर्झरे
Amazed, the king then came to that waterfall.
सर्वाणि शुक्लतां यांति विशिष्टानि भवंति च
All the garments become white and excellent there.
त्यक्त्वा राज्यं स तत्रैव तपस्तेपे महीपतिः
Abandoning his kingdom, the king performed austerities right there.
एकादश्यां नरस्तत्र यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नृप स्नानेनव विपापत्वं तत्क्षणादेव जायते
O King, whoever performs a śrāddha there on the eleventh day, by bathing alone, is instantly freed from all sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडे शुक्लतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-third chapter, entitled 'The Glory of Śuklatīrtha,' in the third section of the Arbuda portion, in the seventh Prabhāsa section, of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Mahāpurāṇa called the Śrī Skanda.
देवी कात्यायनी यत्र शुंभदानवनाशिनी
There is the goddess Kātyāyanī, the destroyer of the demon Śumbha.
शुंभोनाम महादैत्यः पुराऽऽसीत्पृथिवीतले
Once, on the earth, there was a great demon named Śumbha.
स शंकरवराद्दैत्यो देवदानवरक्षसाम्
That demon, by the boon of Śaṃkara, became lord over gods, demons, and rākṣasas.
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे गत्वाऽर्बुदमथाचलम् देवीमाराधयामासुर्व्यक्तरूपां सुरेश्वरीम्
Then all the hosts of gods went to Mount Arbuda and worshipped the manifest goddess, the queen of the gods.
अथ तेषां प्रसन्ना सा दृष्टिगोचरमागता
Then, pleased with them, she appeared before their eyes.
तं निषूदय कल्याणि सोवध्योन्यैः सदा रणे
O Auspicious One, destroy him—he is always to be slain by another in battle.
त्वया संरक्षिता देवि पुरा बाष्कलितो वयम्
O Goddess, formerly you protected us when we were overpowered by Bāṣkala.
स तया याचिते युद्धे ज्ञात्वा तां योषितं नृप
O King, when she challenged him to battle, knowing her to be a woman—