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.
दृष्ट्वा विमुच्युते पापात्स्थापितं नलभूभुजा
When seen, one is freed from sin; it was established by King Nala.
यस्तं पश्येन्नरो भक्त्या माघे षष्ठ्यां सिते द्विजाः
O twice-born, whoever sees it with devotion on the sixth day of the bright half of Magha—
कण्डूः पामाथ दद्रूणि मंडलानि विचर्चिका
itching, eczema, ringworm, and skin diseases—
अस्ति तस्याग्रतः कुण्डं स्वच्छोदकसुपूरितम्
In front of it there is a pool filled with pure, clear water.
यस्तत्र कुरुते स्नानं प्रत्यूषे सोमवासरे
Whoever bathes there at dawn on a Monday—
यदा संस्थापितः शंभुर्नलेन पृथिवीभुजा
When Shambhu was established there by Nala, the lord of the earth—
नल उवाच अत्र स्थेयं त्वया देव सदा सन्निहितेन च
Nala said: O Deva, you must always remain here, ever present.
प्रत्यूषे च निवत्स्यामि प्रासादे नात्र संशयः
I will stay here at dawn in the temple—of this there is no doubt.
माघाष्टम्यामहोरात्रं सकलं च महीपते
On the eighth day of Magha, throughout the entire day and night, O king,
प्राणिनां रोगनाशाय शुक्लपक्षे विशेषतः
for the destruction of diseases among living beings, especially in the bright fortnight.