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—
जीवग्राहेण दुष्टेयं गृह्यतां परुषस्वना 7.3.24.
‘This wicked one, with harsh voice, should be seized alive!’
अथ तस्य समादेशाद्दानवास्तां ततो द्रुतम्
Then, at his command, the demons quickly advanced toward her.
ततोऽवलोकनाद्दैत्यास्तया ते भस्मसात्कृताः
Then, by her mere glance, those demons were reduced to ashes.
अब्रवीत्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति खङ्गमुद्यम्य भीषणः
He cried out, ‘Stop! Stop!’ raising his terrible sword.
अभवद्भस्मसात्सद्यः पतंग इव पावकम् भित्त्वा रसातलं जग्मुः पातालं भयसंयुताः
He was instantly reduced to ashes, like a moth in fire; piercing the underworld, the terrified ones fled to Pātāla.
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे तुष्टुवुस्तां सुरेश्वरीम्
Then all the hosts of gods praised that queen of the gods.
देव्युवाच तत्रैव पर्वते स्थास्ये ह्यर्बुदेऽहं सुरोत्तमाः
The goddess said: ‘Here itself, on Mount Arbuda, I shall remain, O best of gods.’
विना यज्ञैस्तथा दानैः स्वर्गः संकीर्णतां गतः
Without sacrifices and gifts, heaven has become defiled.
वयं त्वां तत्र द्रक्ष्यामः शुक्लाष्टम्यां सदा शुचेः
We shall see you there always, O pure one, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight.
सापि देवी गिरौ तत्र गत्वा चैवार्बुदे नृप ॥ 7.3.24.
And the goddess, O king, went there to the mountain called Arbuda.
गुहामध्यं समासाद्य नित्यं जगद्धिताय वै
Having reached the middle of the cave, she always acts for the welfare of the world.
यस्तां पश्यति राजेन्द्र शुक्लाष्टम्यां समाहितः
O king of kings, whoever sees her with concentration on the eighth day of the bright fortnight—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे कात्यायनीमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of Kātyāyanī,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa section, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं मंकिना ब्राह्मणेन च
Where formerly austerity was performed by Maṃki and also by a brāhmaṇa—
पुरा मंकिरभूद्विप्रो नाममात्रेण भूपते
Long ago, Maṃki was a brāhmaṇa, O king, only in name.
अथासौ पर्वते रम्ये लोकानां नृपसत्तम
Then, O best of kings, he dwelt on a beautiful mountain.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तेन वित्तमुपार्जितम्
After some time, he acquired wealth there.
ततस्तद्दमयामास गोयुगं नृपसत्तम
Then, O best of kings, he subdued a pair of oxen.
निबद्धमुष्ट्रमासाद्य ग्रीवादेशे बलात्स्थितम्
Having seized a tied camel, he forcefully kept it at the neck.
गोयुगेन हि ग्रीवायां लम्बमानेन भूपते
Indeed, O king, with the pair of oxen hanging from the neck—