तस्मात्कीर्तय यत्कृत्यं तच्च श्रेयस्करं मम
Therefore, tell me what is to be done, and what will bring me the highest good.
सर्वलोकहितार्थाय ह्रदे पुण्य जलाश्रये
For the welfare of all the worlds, in the sacred lake, the abode of holy waters—
त्वया तस्मात्समागम्य चातुर्मास्यं शचीपते
Therefore, O Lord of Śacī, you should meet with me there for the Cāturmāsya observance.
न भवंति सहस्राक्ष येन ते परि पंथिनः
O Thousand-eyed one, those who do not undertake this will not be your companions.
अन्योऽपि यो नरो भक्त्या पूजयिष्यति मामिह
Any other person who worships me here with devotion—
तस्माद्गच्छ सहस्राक्ष कुरु राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे कार्यकाले समायाते श्वेतद्वीपे यथा तथा
Therefore, go, O Thousand-eyed one, rule in heaven; when the appointed time comes, act accordingly in Śvetadvīpa.
वासुदेवोऽपि तत्रैव स्थितो लोकहिताय च
Vāsudeva, too, remains there for the welfare of the worlds.
एवं तत्र द्विजश्रेष्ठा जलशायी जनार्दनः ६.४१.
Thus, O best of twice-born, Janārdana, who rests on the waters, is present there.
यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या श्रद्धया परया युतः
Whoever worships him there with devotion, endowed with supreme faith—
तथा देवगणैः सर्वैर्द्वारका तत्र सा कृता
In the same way, by all the hosts of gods, Dvārakā was established there.
शेषकालेऽपि चित्तस्थान्कामान्मर्त्यः समाप्नुयात् सर्वेष्वपि हि कालेषु चातुमास्ये विशेषतः
Even at the end of life, a mortal attains the desires held in the mind; at all times, and especially during the Cāturmāsya.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं सर्वपातकनाशनम्
All this has been told to you, which destroys all sins.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखंडे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये जलशाय्युत्पत्तिवर्णनंनामैकचत्वारिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Purāṇa, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse collection, in the sixth Nāgara section, in the greatness of the sacred place of Śrī Hāṭakeśvara, this is the forty-first chapter, named 'The Account of the Origin of the One Who Rests on the Waters.'
संतिष्ठते द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सर्वकामप्रदायकम्
It remains, O best of twice-born, as the giver of all desires.
तत्र चैत्रतृतीयायां कृते स्नाने भवेन्नरः
There, when a person bathes on the third day of the bright half of Caitra—
नारी वा श्रद्धयोपेता तत्र स्नात्वा प्रजावती
Or a woman, endowed with faith, having bathed there, becomes fruitful in offspring.
ऋषय ऊचुः तीर्थं तस्य मुनेस्तत्र कस्मिन्काले व्यवस्थितम्
The sages said: At what time was the tīrtha of that sage established there?
अवधूतो धरापृष्ठे माहात्म्येन व्यवस्थितः
He, having renounced, was established on the earth by his greatness.
यत्र देवनदी गंगा स्वयमेव व्यवस्थिता
There, the divine river Gaṅgā herself is established.
यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं पितॄनुद्दिश्य भावितः
Whoever performs śrāddha there, with intention for the ancestors—
यत्किंचिद्दीयत दानं तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे द्विजाः
Whatever gift is given at that excellent tīrtha, O twice-born—
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य मृगी व्याधशराहता
At some time, a doe, struck by a hunter's arrow—
चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां मध्याह्ने द्विजसत्तमाः ६.४२.
On the third day of the bright half of Caitra, at midday, O best of twice-born,
अथ तत्तोयमाहात्म्यान्मेनकानाम साऽभवत्
Then, because of the greatness of that water, she became known as Menaka.
स्मरमाणाऽथ सा तस्य प्रभावं वरवर्णिनी चैत्रशुक्लतृतीयायां यामर्क्षे सूर्यवासरे
Remembering his power, that splendid woman, on the third day of the bright half of Caitra, when the Sun was in Aries,
एकदा दिवसे तस्मिन्भ्रममाणो मुनीश्वरः
Once, on that day, the great sage was wandering about.
साऽपि स्वर्गात्समायाता देवतादर्शनार्थतः
She too descended from heaven, wishing to see the deity.
सा दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिं तत्र भ्रममाणमितस्ततः
Seeing that sage there, wandering here and there,
व्रतप्रभावजैर्व्याप्तं तेजोभिर्भास्करं यथा
She saw him surrounded by the radiance born of the power of his vows, like the sun with its rays.
सा तस्य दर्शनादेव कामबाणप्रपीडिता
Just by seeing him, she was pierced by the arrows of desire.