ततोऽर्जुनः प्रहृष्टात्मा तेभ्यो दत्त्वा धनं बहु
Then Arjuna, his heart gladdened, gave them much wealth.
माहात्म्यं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः शृण्वतां पापनाशनम्
O best of Brāhmaṇas, the glory, which destroys sin, was heard by them.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये नरादित्यमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixtieth chapter, entitled 'The Description of the Greatness of Nara and Āditya,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Purāṇa.
कथं जातं महाभाग किंप्रभावं तु तद्वद
How did it come to be, O highly fortunate one? Tell me, what is its power?
ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च सर्वलोकहिते रतः
He was devoted to Brahmins, a giver of refuge, and engaged in the welfare of all worlds.
तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
His wife was virtuous, esteemed even above his own life.
अथ तस्यां समुत्पन्ना प्राप्ते वयसि पश्चिमे
Then, in her, a child was born when she reached her later years.
तत आनीय विप्रान्स ज्योतिर्ज्ञानविचक्षणान्
Then he summoned Brāhmaṇas skilled in the science of astrology.
चंद्रे वापि चतुर्दश्यां सा भवेद्विषकन्यका
If a girl is born on the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, whether under the moon or otherwise, she is a poison-maiden.
यस्तस्याः प्रतिगृह्णाति पाणिं पार्थिवसत्तम
O best of kings, whoever accepts her hand in marriage—
यस्मिन्सा जायते हर्म्ये षण्मासाभ्यंतरे च तत्
In whatever house she is born, within six months in that place—
सेयं तव सुता राजन्यथोक्ता विष कन्यका
This, your daughter, O king, as described, is a poison-maiden.
तस्मादिमां परित्यज्य सुखी भव नराधिप ६.६१.
Therefore, abandon her and be happy, O ruler of men.
अन्यदेहोद्भवं कर्म फलिष्यति तथापि मे
Yet, for me, the karma arising from another body will bear fruit.
शुभं वा यदि वा पापं न तु शक्यं प्ररक्षितुम्
Whether it is auspicious or sinful, it cannot be protected.
येनयेन शरीरेण यद्यत्कर्म करोति यः
With whatever body, whatever actions a person performs—
यस्यां यस्यामवस्थायां क्रियतेऽत्र शुभाशुभम्
In whatever state or condition, whatever good or bad deed is done here—
न नश्यति पुराकर्म कृतं सर्वेंद्रियैरिह
The deeds done previously with all the senses here do not perish.
आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्या निधनमेव च
Lifespan, actions, wealth, knowledge, and even death—
यथा वृक्षेषु वल्लीषु कुसुमानि फलानि च
Just as on trees and vines there are flowers and fruits—
येनैव यद्यथा पूर्वं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम्
Whatever good or bad deed was done before, in whatever way and by whom—
यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम्
Just as among a thousand cows, a calf finds its mother—
अन्यदेहकृतं कर्म न कश्चित्पुरुषो भुवि ६.६१.
No person on earth experiences the results of actions done by another body.
अन्यथा शास्त्रगर्भिण्या धिया धीरो महीयते
Otherwise, a wise person is honored for intellect pregnant with scripture.
स्वकृतान्युपतिष्ठंति सुखदुःखानि देहिनाम्
Pleasures and pains created by oneself come to the embodied being.
सुशीघ्रमभिधावन्तं निजं कर्मानुधावति
Even if one runs very swiftly, one's own karma pursues him.
यथा छायातपौ नित्यं सुसंबद्धौ परस्परम्
Just as shadow and sunlight are always closely joined to each other—
येन यत्रोपभोक्तव्यं सुखं वा दुःखमेव वा
Whatever happiness or sorrow is to be experienced, by whom and where—
प्रमाणं कर्मभूतानां सुखदुःखोपपादने
The measure of actions is the cause for the arising of pleasure and pain.
तैलक्षये यथा दीपो निर्वाणमधिगच्छति
Just as when oil is exhausted, a lamp attains extinction—