गीतं वा यदि वा नृत्यं तत्पुरः कुरुते नरः
Or if a man sings or dances before him in that city—
एवमुक्त्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठाः स मुनिर्ब्रह्मसंभवः ६.५२.
Having spoken thus, the sage born from Brahma addressed the best of twice-born.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीति साहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखंडे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये रुद्रकोटिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्विपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Samhitā, in the sixth Nāgara section, in the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara field, the fifty-second chapter named 'Description of the greatness of Rudrakoṭi' is concluded.
प्रभूताश्चर्यसंयुक्तं बहुसिद्धनिषेवितम्
It is endowed with abundant wonders and frequented by many accomplished ones.
यस्य मध्यगतो नित्यं स्वयमेव महेश्वरः
In whose midst, Maheshvara himself always resides.
वैशाख्यां यो नरस्तत्र कृत्वा श्राद्धं समाहितः पूजयेद्दक्षिणां मूर्तिं समाश्रित्य द्विजोत्तमाः
Whoever, with concentration, performs śrāddha there in Vaiśākha and worships the southern form, relying upon it, O best of twice-born—
दश पूर्वान्दशातीतानात्मानं च द्विजोत्तमाः
Ten ancestors before, ten after, and oneself, O best of twice-born—
यो यं काममभिध्याय तत्र पीठं प्रपूजयेत्
Whoever, desiring whatever wish, worships the seat there—
स तत्कृत्स्नमवाप्नोति यदपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
He attains all that, even that which is exceedingly difficult to obtain.
श्रद्धायुक्तो नरो यो वा उपवासपरः शुचिः स याति परमं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्
A man who is endowed with faith, devoted to fasting, and pure—he reaches the supreme state, free from old age and death.
किं व्रतैः किं वृथा दानैः किं जपैर्नियमेन वा
What is the use of vows, what of fruitless gifts, or of recitations and discipline?
गर्ता सुविपुलाकारा सर्वपातकनाशिनी
There is a pit of very great size, destroyer of all sins.
ब्रह्महत्याविनिर्मुक्तः सौदासो यत्र पार्थिवः ६.५३.
There, King Saudāsa was freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
ब्रह्मण्यस्यापि संजाता तदस्माकं प्रकीर्तय
Even in the case of one devoted to Brahmins, this has occurred—declare this to us.
श्रूयते स महीपालो ब्राह्मणानां हिते रतः
It is heard that this king was devoted to the welfare of Brahmins.
विमुक्तश्च कथं भूयो भ्रूणगर्तामुपाश्रितः
And how, having been freed, did he again resort to the pit of feticide?
तदा स लज्जयाविष्टो लिंगाभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, overwhelmed with shame and deprived of his emblem, O best of Brahmins,
कृत्वाऽतिविपुलां गर्तां प्रविवेश ततः परम्
He made a very large pit and then entered it.
एवं सा तत्र संजाता गर्ता ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः
Thus, O excellent Brahmins, that pit was made there.
आसीन्मित्रसहोनाम राजा परमधार्मिकः
There was a king named Mitrasaha, supremely righteous.
तेनेष्टं विपुलैर्यज्ञैः सुवर्णवरदक्षिणैः
He performed great sacrifices with abundant gifts of gold.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके
Then, at a certain time, during a twelve-year sacrifice,
क्रूराक्षः क्रूरबुद्धिश्च राक्षसौ बलवत्तरौ ६.५३.
Two powerful Rākṣasas appeared, Krūrākṣa and Krūrabuddhi.
राक्षसैर्बहुभिः सार्धं तथान्यैर्भूतसंज्ञितैः
Together with many other Rākṣasas and beings called spirits,
अथ ते राक्षसाः सर्वे किंचिच्छिद्रमवेक्ष्य च
Then all those Rākṣasas, having found a small opening,
निघ्नन्तो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठान्भक्षयन्तो हवींषि च
They began killing the best of Brahmins and devouring the offerings.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र हाहाकारो महानभूत्
Meanwhile, a great outcry arose there.
ततो मैत्रसहिः क्रुद्धस्त्यक्त्वा दीक्षाव्रतं नृपः
Then King Maitrasahi, enraged, abandoned his vow of consecration.
कृतरक्षो वसिष्ठेन स्वयमेव पुरोधसा
Having been protected by Vasiṣṭha, his own family priest, he himself was safeguarded.
क्रूरबुद्धिरथो वीक्ष्य हतं श्रेष्ठं सहोदरम्
But the one of cruel intent, seeing his noble brother slain,