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.
स दृष्ट्वाऽदृष्टपूर्वां तां मार्गपृच्छाकृते ततः
He, seeing her—never seen before—then asked her for directions.
उवाच देशं तां पृच्छन्स्त्रीधर्मांश्च विशेषतः
He questioned her about the region, and especially about the duties of women.
सदैव वासुदेवस्य भक्तिश्चाव्यभिचारिणी चारित्रविनयोपेता सर्वदा प्रियवादिनी ॥ ६.४२.
Is your devotion to Vāsudeva always unwavering, accompanied by good conduct and humility, and do you always speak kindly?
कच्चित्त्वं सर्वदाभीष्टा पत्युर्दानैस्तथार्च्चनैः
Are you always pleasing to your husband with gifts and acts of worship?
कच्चिद्भर्तरि संसुप्ते त्वं निशवशमेष्यसि
When your husband is asleep, do you remain awake at night?
कच्चित्प्रातः समुत्थाय करोषि गृहमार्जनम्
Do you, rising early in the morning, sweep the house?
कच्चिदेवान्नमस्कृत्य गुरुं च तदनंतरम्
Do you, after bowing to the gods, then honor your teacher?
कच्चिदस्तंगते सूर्ये नान्नमश्नासि भाभिनि
O radiant one, when the sun has set, do you refrain from eating food?
कच्चित्पिबसि पानीयं सप्तवारविशोधितम् [। निबिडेन स्ववस्त्रेण पालयंती जलोद्भवान्॥ २६. यूकामत्कुणदंशादीन्पुत्रवत्परिरक्षसि
Do you drink water that has been purified seven times, carefully filtering it with your own cloth, and do you protect creatures born in water—like lice, bugs, and mosquitoes—as if they were your own children?
कच्चित्साधुमुखान्नित्यं शिवधर्मं सुभक्तितः
Are you always devoted to the righteous, faithfully following the sacred duties of Śiva?