अथासौ कलिनाविष्टो द्यूतं चक्रे महीपतिः
Then, possessed by Kali, the king engaged in gambling.
ततः स व्यसनासक्तो वार्यमाणोऽपि सज्जनैः
Thereafter, addicted to misfortune, though restrained by good people, he did not desist.
अथ तां स समादाय प्रविष्टो गहनं वनम्
Then, taking her with him, he entered the dense forest.
ततः स चिंतयामास यद्येषा भीममंदिरे
Thereupon, he began to reflect: 'If she is in the house of Bhīma...'
न मया तत्र गंतव्यं कथंचिदपि मानिना
'I, proud as I am, must not go there under any circumstance.'
येन त्यक्ता मया साध्वी कुण्डिनं याति तत्पुरम् प्रजगाम वनं घोरं वन्यश्वापदसंकुलम्॥ ६.५४.
That virtuous woman, abandoned by me, went to the city of Kuṇḍina, while I entered the dreadful forest teeming with wild beasts.
प्रत्यूषे चापि सोत्थाय यावत्पश्यति भाभिनी
And at dawn, she rose and gazed as far as her sight could reach.
ततो विलप्य दुःखार्ता करुणं तत्र कानने
Then, stricken with sorrow, she lamented mournfully there in the forest.
नलोऽपि च वने तस्मिन्भ्रममाणो महीपतिः
King Nala too wandered in that forest.
ततस्तद्वनमुत्सृज्य जगामान्यन्महावनम्
Then, leaving that forest behind, he went to another great forest.
एवं स पृथिवीपालो भ्रममाणोवनाद्वनम्
Thus did the king roam from forest to forest.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तं तन्महानवमीदिनम्
Meanwhile, the great Navamī day arrived.
ततः स मृन्मयीं कृत्वा चर्ममुण्डधरां नृपः
Then the king fashioned an image of clay of Carmamuṇḍā.
ततस्तस्याः स्तुतिं कृत्वा पुरः स्थित्वा कृतांजलिः
Then, standing before her with joined palms, he offered praise.
जय सर्वगते देवि चर्ममुण्डधरे वरे
Victory to you, O all-pervading goddess, Carmamuṇḍā, bestower of boons!
कालरात्रि जयाचिन्त्ये नवम्यष्टमिवल्लभे ॥ ६.५४.
Hail to you, Kalaratri, O inconceivable one, beloved of Navamī and Aṣṭamī!
भीमरूपे सुरूपे च महाविद्ये महाबले
Of terrible form and beautiful form, great knowledge and great strength,
नित्यरूपे जगद्धात्रि सुरामांसवसाप्रिये
Of eternal form, sustainer of the world, fond of the flesh and fat of the gods,
शवयानरते रम्ये भुजंगाभरणान्विते
Delighting in the cremation ground, adorned with serpent ornaments,
फेत्कारा रवशोभिष्ठे गीतवाद्यविराजिते
Resounding with the cries of 'pheṭ', filled with pleasing sounds of song and music,
त्वं रतिस्त्वं धृतिस्तुष्टिस्त्वं गौरी त्वं सुरेश्वरी
You are desire, you are fortitude, you are contentment, you are Gauri, you are the queen of the gods.
यत्किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु स्त्रीरूपं देवि दृश्यते
Whatever feminine form is seen in the three worlds, O goddess, it is you.
येन सत्येन तेन त्वमत्रावासं द्रुतं कुरु
By that truth, may you swiftly grant your presence here.
प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा तं नृपं भक्तवत्सला
Having appeared, the goddess who cherishes her devotees spoke to the king.
तस्माद्गृहाण मत्तस्त्वं वरं मनसि संस्थितम्
Therefore, take from me the boon that you have set your mind upon.
सा मया निर्जने मुक्ता वने व्यालगणान्विते ॥ ६.५४.
She was released by me in a lonely forest filled with groups of wild beasts.
अखण्डशीलां निर्दोषां यथाहं त्वत्प्रसादतः
By your grace, I became one of unbroken conduct and free from fault, just as you are.
स्तोत्रेणानेन यो देवि स्तुतिं कुर्यात्पुरस्तव
O Goddess, whoever recites this hymn of praise before you with this very stotra,
सोऽपि पार्थिवशार्दूलो लेभे सर्वं तयोदितम्
that tiger among kings also obtained all that was declared by her.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये नलनिर्मितचर्ममुण्डामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुष्पञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fourth chapter, named 'The Glory of the Leather-Munda made by Nala,' in the section on the greatness of the Hatakeshvara field, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.