एवमुक्त्वाथ ते विप्राः स्वानि स्थानानि भेजिरे
Having spoken thus, those sages then returned to their own places.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखंडे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये गांगेययात्राख्यानंनाम सप्तपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-seventh chapter, named 'The Account of the Gāṅgeya Pilgrimage,' in the section on the glory of the Śrī Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
ततः संस्थापयामास गंगां त्रिपथगामिनीम्
Then he established the Gaṅgā, the river that flows in three paths.
कूपिकायां महाभाग शिवलिंगस्य पूर्वतः
In the well, O illustrious one, to the east of the Śivaliṅga.
अस्यां यः पुरुषः स्नानं कृत्वा मां वीक्षयिष्यति
Whoever, after bathing here, looks upon me—
करिष्यति तथा यस्तु शपथं चात्र मानवः
And likewise, any man who takes an oath here—
एवमुक्त्वा महाभागो भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः
Having spoken thus, the illustrious Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Kurus—
तत्रासीच्छूद्रसंभूतः पौंड्रकोनाम नामतः
There was a man born of the Śūdra caste, named Pauṇḍraka.
हास्यभावाच्च मित्रस्य पुस्तकं तेन चोरितम्
And out of a sense of jest, he stole his friend’s book.
पुस्तकं चैव युष्माकं चिन्तनीयं सदैव तत्
That book of yours should always be kept in mind.
कृताश्च शपथास्तत्र स्नात्वा भागीरथीजले
And oaths were taken there, after bathing in the waters of the Bhāgīrathī.
पुनश्च रुचिरं हास्यं कृत्वा तेन समं बहु ६.५८.
Again, with much delightful laughter, together with him.
स त्यक्तो बांधवैः सर्वैः कलत्रैरपि वल्लभैः
He was abandoned by all his relatives and even by his beloved wives.
जातश्च तत्प्रभावेन कुष्ठेन परिवर्जितः
Afflicted by that leprosy, he became shunned by everyone.
न कार्यः शपथस्तस्मात्तस्याग्रेऽपि लघुर्द्विजाः
Therefore, O twice-born, one should not make an oath before such a person, even in jest.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये शिवगंगामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम अष्टपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Shiva Ganga,' in the section on the glory of the Hatakeshvara Kshetra, in the sixth book, within the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
शिवश्च परया भक्त्या तथा विष्णुर्द्विजोत्तमाः
Shiva, too, with supreme devotion, and likewise Vishnu, O best of the twice-born,
यस्तान्पूजयते भक्त्या मानुषो भक्तितस्ततः
Whoever worships them with devotion, that human being, because of that devotion,
हस्तिनापुरसंस्थेन विदुरेण पुरा द्विजाः
In ancient times, O twice-born, in the city of Hastinapura, there was a certain Vidura.
अपुत्रस्य गतिर्लोके कीदृक्संजायते परे
What kind of destiny befalls a man without a son in this world and the next?
द्वादशानामपि तथा यद्येकोऽपि न विद्यते
And likewise, if even one among the twelve is not present,
औरसः क्षेत्रजश्चैव क्रयक्रीतश्च पालितः कानीनश्च सहोढश्च अश्वत्थो ब्रह्मवृक्षकः
A son born from the womb, a son begotten on another's wife, a purchased son, an adopted son, a son born before marriage, a son accepted with his mother, a son of the sacred fig tree, and a son of the Brahma tree—
एतेषामपि यद्येकः पुरुषाणां न जायते
If even one among these types of sons is not born to a man,
सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य गालवस्य महात्मनः
Sūta said: Having heard those words of the great-souled Galava,
तप्तस्तं गालवः प्राह मा त्वं दुःखपदं व्रज
Galava, moved with compassion, said to him, 'Do not go to a state of suffering.'
तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि निःशेषं फलं पुत्रसमुद्भवम् ६.५९.
Therefore, you shall obtain completely the fruit arising from having a son.
हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे सर्ववृद्धिशुभोदये
In the field of Hatakeshvara, where all prosperity and auspiciousness arise,
तत्स्थानं गालवोद्दिष्टं हर्षेण महतान्वितः
That place, indicated by Galava, he approached with great joy.
वैवाहिकेन विधिना कृतकृत्यो बभूव ह
By the proper marriage rite, he fulfilled his purpose.
स दृष्ट्वा कुरुवृद्धस्य कीर्तनानि महात्मनः
Having seen the praises of the great-souled elder of the Kurus,