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.
संसारभ्रमणं नारी प्रथमेपि समागमे
A woman causes wandering in saṃsāra even at the very first meeting.
तस्मात्स्त्रीभिः समं प्राज्ञः संभाषामपि वर्जयेत्
Therefore, a wise man should avoid even conversation with women.
अंगार सदृशा नारी घृतकुंभसमः पुमान्
A woman is like fire, and a man is like a pot of ghee.
स्त्रियो मूलमनर्थानां सर्वेषां प्राणिनां भुवि
Women are the root of all misfortunes for all living beings on earth.
कुलीना वित्तवत्यश्च नाथवत्योऽपि योषितः ६.४४.
Even women who are of good family, wealthy, or protected by guardians—
न स्त्रीभ्यः किंचिदन्यद्धि पापाय विद्यते भुवि नीचोऽपि कुरुते सेवां यस्तासां विजनेष्वथ
There is nothing else on earth more sinful than women; even a lowly man serves them in secret.
अनर्थत्वान्मनुष्याणां भयात्परिजनस्य च
Because of the misfortune of people and out of fear for her attendants,
शशाप तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं स्फुरमाणोष्ठसंपुटा
she cursed that best of sages, her lips trembling with agitation.
यस्मात्त्वया परित्यक्ता सकामाहं सुदुर्मते
Because you have abandoned me, while I still desired you, O most foolish one,
अद्यैव भव दुबुर्द्धे वलीपलितसंयुतः
from this very day, O wicked-minded one, become marked by wrinkles and gray hair.
बभूव तादृशः सद्यस्तया यादृक्प्रकीर्तितः
Immediately, he became just as she had described.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा सोऽपि तां शप्तुमुद्यतः
Then, filled with anger, he too prepared to curse her.
निर्दोषोऽपि त्वया यस्माच्छप्तोऽहं गणिकाधमे
Though I am blameless, because you have cursed me, O lowest of courtesans,
सापि तद्वचनात्सद्यस्तादृग्रूपा व्यजायत ६.४४.
she too, by his words, immediately became of such a form.
अथ तादृक्स्वरूपेण स्नाता तत्र जला शये
Then, with that very appearance, she bathed and lay in the water there.
तद्दृष्ट्वा परमाश्चर्यमतीव त्वरयान्वितः
Seeing that, he was filled with great wonder and hurried greatly.
ततस्तौ तीर्थमाहात्म्याद्रूपौदार्यगुणान्वितौ
Then, by the power of the holy place, both regained beauty and noble qualities.
एवं तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं विज्ञाय भगवानृषिः
Thus, knowing the greatness of that sacred place, the divine sage
तपश्चकार सुमहत्तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे तदा
performed great austerities at that excellent holy place at that time.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो यस्तु पूजयेल्लिंगमुत्तमम्
Whoever bathes there and worships the supreme liṅga,