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.
यो मामत्र स्थितं तत्र दिवसे वीक्षयिष्यति तस्य नाशं प्रयास्यंति व्याधयो गात्रसंभवाः ॥ ६.५५.
Whoever sees me present there on that day, his bodily diseases will surely depart.
योऽस्य कुंडस्य संभूतां मृत्तिकामपि मानवः सोऽपि रोगैर्विनिर्मुक्तः संभविष्यति पुष्टिमान्
Even a man who takes the clay arising from that pool will become free from diseases and endowed with vigor.
निष्कामस्तु पुनर्यो मां तस्मिन्काले नृपोत्तम सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मम लोकं स यास्यति
But if one is without desire, O best of kings, then at that time, freed from all sins, he will attain my world.
अन्तर्धानं गतो विप्रा यथा दीपोऽत्र तत्क्षणात्
The sage vanished in that very moment, just as a lamp is extinguished.
एष संस्थापितः शंभुर्मया युष्मत्पुरोंतिके
This Śambhu has been established by me here before you.
अधुनाहं गमिष्यामि स्वराज्याय कृते द्विजाः
Now I shall depart, O twice-born ones, to my own heavenly realm.
तव देवकृते यत्नं यात्राद्यासु क्रियासु च
Your effort for the sake of the deity, in journeys and in all rites—
तथा पूजां करिष्यामः श्रद्धया परया युताः वंशजास्ते करिष्यंति पूजामस्य सुभक्तितः
Thus, we shall perform worship, endowed with supreme faith; your descendants will also worship him with great devotion.
प्रतस्थे तान्प्रणम्योच्चैः सर्वैस्तैश्चाभिनंदितः
He set out, having bowed deeply to them, and was honored by all those present.
एवं स भगवाञ्छंभुस्तस्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थितः ६.५५.
Thus, the blessed Śambhu remained established in that place.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वीक्षणीयः सदा हि सः
Therefore, he should always be beheld with all effort.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वर क्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये नलेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पञ्चपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter, called 'The Description of the Greatness of Naleśvara,' in the section on the glory of Haṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
दृष्ट्वा कामानवाप्नोति सर्वान्मर्त्यो हृदि स्थितान्
By seeing, a mortal attains all desires that dwell in the heart.
यस्तु माघस्य शुक्लायां सप्तम्यां रविवासरे
But on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Māgha, on a Sunday—
आसीत्पूर्वं द्विजो नाम गालवः स महामुनिः
There was once, in ancient times, a sage named Gālava, a great ascetic.
शुचिव्रतपरः शांतो देवद्विजपरायणः
He was devoted to purity and vows, tranquil, and dedicated to gods and Brāhmaṇas.
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य संप्राप्तं पश्चिमं वयः
As he lived in this way, old age eventually came upon him.
ततः सर्वं परित्यज्य गृहकृत्यं स भक्तिमान्
Then, renouncing everything—all household duties—he, full of devotion,
वटवृक्षं समाश्रित्य श्रद्धया परया युतः
Took refuge under a banyan tree, endowed with supreme faith.
वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमंते जलसंश्रयः
In the rainy season he slept in the open, and in winter he took shelter near water.