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.
ततः पंचदशे वर्षे संप्राप्ते भगवान्रविः
Then, when the fifteenth year arrived, the glorious Sun spoke.
अतिदुर्लभमप्याशु तव दास्याम्यसंशयम् ॥६.५६.
Without doubt, I shall quickly grant you even that which is extremely difficult to obtain.
तस्माद्देहि सुतं मह्यं वंशवृद्धिकरं परम्
Therefore, give me a son, one who will greatly increase the lineage.
सप्तम्यश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठ निराहारस्तु भक्तितः या
And on the seventh day, O best of twice-born, she observed a fast with devotion.
एवमुक्त्वा च सप्ताश्वो विरराम दिवाकरः
Having thus spoken, the Sun, drawn by seven horses, ceased his course.
नातिदीर्घेण कालेन ततस्तस्याभव तत्सुतः
Then, after not too long a time, a son was born to her.
ततश्चक्रे पिता नाम वटेश्वर इति स्वयम्
Thereafter, the father himself gave him the name Vaṭeśvara.
वटेश्वरसुतान्दृष्ट्वा पौत्रांश्च द्विजसत्तमाः
O best of Brahmins, seeing the sons and grandsons of Vaṭeśvara—
वटेश्वरोऽपि संज्ञाय पित्रा संस्थापितं रविम् ६.५६.
Vaṭeśvara, knowing this, established the Sun as installed by his father.
ततःप्रभृति लोके च स वटादित्यसंज्ञितः
From that time onward, in the world, he became known as Vaṭāditya.
सप्तम्यां सूर्यवारेण उपवासपरायणः स प्राप्नोति सुतं श्रेष्ठं स्ववंशस्य विवर्धनम्
Whoever, devoted to fasting, observes the vow on the seventh day, the day of the Sun, obtains an excellent son who increases his own lineage.
निष्कामो वा नरो यस्तु तं पूजयति मानवः
Or, any man who worships him, even without desire, O human being—
अथ गाथा पुरा गीता नारदेन सुरर्षिणा
Then, there is a verse formerly sung by Nārada, the sage among the gods:
अपि वर्षशता नारी वंध्या वा दुर्भगापि वा
Even if a woman is barren for a hundred years, or unfortunate—
किं दानैः किं व्रतैर्ध्यानैः किं जपैः सोपवासकैः
What use are gifts, or vows, or meditations, or recitations with fasting?
वर्षमेकं नरो भक्त्या यः पश्येत्सूर्यवासरे
If a man, with devotion, beholds (the Sun) on the Sun's day for one year—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तं देवं यत्नतो द्विजाः
Therefore, with every effort, worship that god diligently, O Brahmins.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखंडे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये सांबादित्यमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षट्पञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Sāmbāditya,' in the section on the glory of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
भीष्मेण ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां संमतेन तथात्मना
By Bhishma, with the approval of the foremost Brahmins and by his own will,
शंतनोर्दयितः पुत्रो गांगेय इति विश्रुतः
The beloved son of Shantanu, renowned as the son of Ganga,