क्वचिच्छ्रुत्वाऽऽगमं पुण्यं प्रकरोषि च पूजनम्
Do you sometimes hear of a sacred tradition and perform worship accordingly?
कच्चित्पुराणशास्त्राणि प्रणीतानि जनेश्वरैः ६.४२.
Do you study the ancient scriptures composed by the lords of men?
यः श्रुत्वा सर्व शास्त्राणि निष्क्रयं न प्रयच्छति
Is there anyone who, after hearing all the scriptures, does not offer the prescribed fee?
कच्चिच्छिवालये नृत्यगीतवाद्यादिकाः क्रियाः
Are dance, song, music, and similar activities performed in the temple of Shiva?
कच्चित्प्रावरणं वस्त्रं सुभगे सर्वमेव च
O fortunate one, do you provide clothing and all coverings as needed?
वृथा पर्यटनं नित्यं कच्चिन्न परमंदिरे
Do you ever wander about aimlessly, never entering the supreme temple?
कच्चिन्नाश्नासि भद्रे त्वं स्वभर्तरि बुभुक्षिते
O good lady, do you eat while your husband is hungry?
कच्चित्प्रकुपिते कांते नोत्तराणि प्रयच्छसि
When your beloved is angry, do you refrain from speaking harsh words?
कच्चित्त्वं प्रोषिते कांते मलिनांबरधारिणी
When your beloved is away, do you wear soiled garments?
कच्चिन्मंदिरपृष्ठे त्वं न धत्से भिन्नभाजनम्
Do you ever place broken vessels behind the temple?
कच्चिन्न कुरुषे मैत्रीं बंधकीभिः समं शुभे ६.४२.
O auspicious one, do you avoid forming friendships with courtesans?
कञ्चिद्दधासि नित्यं त्वं मुखं कुंकुमरंजितम्
Do you always adorn your face with red vermilion?
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीति साहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये विश्वामित्रकुण्डोत्पत्तिवृत्तान्ते विश्वामित्रमेनकासमागमवर्णनंनाम द्विचत्वारिंशो ध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-second chapter, entitled 'The Meeting of Viśvāmitra and Menakā,' in the account of the origin of Viśvāmitra's pool, in the glory of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the sixth section, the Nāgara division, of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
स्वेच्छाचारविहारिण्यो वयं वेश्या दिवौकसाम्
We courtesans of the gods dwell and act as we please.
स त्वं वद महाभाग कस्माद्देशात्समागतः
So, tell me, O highly fortunate one, from what land have you come?
त्वां दृष्ट्वाहं महाभाग कामदेव समाकृतिम्
Seeing you, O highly fortunate one, I perceive the very form of Kāma, the god of love.
तस्माद्भजस्व मां रक्तां नो चेद्यास्यामि संक्षयम् ततः स्त्रीवधपापेन लिप्यसे त्वं न संशयः
Therefore, unite with me who am enamored; if not, I will perish, and you will surely incur the sin of killing a woman.
मूर्खाः कामविधौ भद्रे निरताः शिवशासने
O good lady, the foolish are devoted to lustful acts, but not to the commands of Shiva.
सर्वेषां व्रतिनां मूलं ब्रह्मचर्यमुदाहृतम्
Brahmacharya is declared to be the root of all vows.
अपि वर्षशतं साग्रं यत्तपः कुरुते व्रती
Even if a person observing a vow performs austerity for a full hundred years,
मां च पाशुपतं लुब्धा कस्मात्त्वं भीरु भाषसे
And you, desiring me and the Pāśupata vow, why do you speak so, O timid one?
यः स्त्रीं भजति पापात्मा वृथा पाशुपतव्रती
He who, though a Pāśupata votary, associates with a woman, is a sinner and acts in vain.
आस्तां तावत्समा संगं संस्पर्शं च वरानने ६.४३.
Let there be no association or even touch, O beautiful-faced one.
तस्माद् द्रुततरं गच्छ स्थानादस्माद्वरांगने
Therefore, depart quickly from this place, O lovely-limbed one.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये विश्वामित्रकुण्डोत्पत्तिवृत्तान्ते विश्वामित्रमेनकासंवादवर्णनंनाम त्रिचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-third chapter, named 'The Dialogue between Viśvāmitra and Menakā in the Account of the Origin of Viśvāmitra's Pool, in the Glory of the Hāṭakeśvara Field, in the Sixth Book, the City Section, of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Great Skanda Purāṇa.'
तेन मामीदृशैर्वाक्यैर्निवारयसि रागिणीम्
With such words you restrain me, who am filled with passion.
कोपेन महता युक्तो निःस्पृहस्तत्परिग्रहे
You are possessed of great anger, yet without desire for union with me.
व्रतनाशात्तु यत्पापमधिकं स्त्रीवधाद्भवेत्
The sin that arises from the destruction of a vow is greater than that from killing a woman.
प्रायश्चित्तं बुधैरुक्तं व्रतिनां स्त्रीवधे कृते
Atonement for killing a woman by one observing a vow has been prescribed by the wise.
न केवलं व्रतोपेताः स्त्रीसंगात्पापमाप्नुयुः
Not only those devoted to vows incur sin from association with women.