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,
अद्यापि दृश्यते तत्र गंगोदकसमं जलम्
even today, water equal to that of the Ganges is seen there.
यस्तत्र कुरुते स्नानं श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
Whoever bathes there with a mind purified by faith,
ततःप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं ख्यातिं प्राप्तं महीतले
from that time, that holy place has become renowned on earth.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तमाः ६.४४.
Thus I have told you everything, O best of twice-born, as I was asked.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखंडे श्रीहाटकेवरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये विश्वामित्रकुण्डोत्पत्ति विश्वामित्रेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुश्चत्वारिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-fourth chapter, called 'The Origin of Viśvāmitra's Sacred Pool and the Description of the Greatness of Viśvāmitreśvara,' in the sixth book, Nāgarakhaṇḍa, of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section on the glory of the Śrīhāṭakeśvara region.
यत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तमानर्ताधिपभूभुजा
Here, in ancient times, the king of Ānarta performed austerities.
यस्तत्र कार्तिके मासि कृत्तिकास्थे निशाकरे
Whoever, during the month of Kārtika, when the moon is in Kṛttikā, performs rites there—
कस्मिन्स्थाने च विज्ञेयं कैश्चिह्नैर्वद सूतज
In which place, and by what signs is it known? Tell me, O son of Sūta.
प्राग्दृष्टं मुनिना तत्र विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
Formerly, that place was seen by the wise sage Viśvāmitra.
पुरा निवसतस्तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य सन्मुनेः
Long ago, while the noble sage Viśvāmitra was residing there—