न मन्त्रा न तपो दानं न तीर्थं न च संयमः
Neither mantras, nor austerity, nor charity, nor pilgrimage, nor self-restraint—
अन्नपानानि जीर्यंति यत्र भक्ष्यं च भक्षितम् ६.६१.
Food and drink decay, and whatever is eaten is consumed there.
तस्मात्कर्मकृतं सर्वं देहिनामत्र जायते
Therefore, all that is experienced by embodied beings here arises from actions performed.
अरक्षितं तिष्ठति दैवरक्षितं सुरक्षितं दैवहतं विनश्यति
What is unprotected remains, what is protected by fate is secure; what is struck down by fate perishes.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये विषकन्यकोत्पत्तिवर्णनंनामैकषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-first chapter, entitled 'The Origin of the Poison-Maiden,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the Nāgara division of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
नात्यजत्तां तथोक्तोऽपि दैवज्ञैर्विषकन्यकाम्
Even though so advised by astrologers, he did not abandon the poison-maiden.
शर्मणष्ठीवनं यस्मात्तया स्वपितुराहितम्
For by her, the destruction of Śarmaṇa was brought about, as ordained by her father.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तस्य शत्रवः पृथिवीपतेः ॥ सर्वतः पीडयामास राष्ट्रं क्रोधसमन्विताः
Meanwhile, the enemies of that king, filled with anger, began to afflict the kingdom from all sides.
अथा सौ पार्थिवः क्रुद्धः स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः
Then that king, enraged and surrounded by his own army,
ततः संप्राप्य ताञ्छत्रूंश्चकार स महाहवम्
Having reached those enemies, he engaged in a great battle.
ततश्च दशमे प्राप्ते शत्रुभिः स महीपतिः
Then, on the tenth day, that king was overcome by the enemies.
ततस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य हतशेषाश्च ये नराः
Afterwards, those men who survived among that king's forces,
तेपि शत्रुगणाः सर्वे संप्रहृष्टा जिगीषवः
All those groups of enemies, delighted and eager for victory,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे पौराः सर्वे शोकपरायणाः
Meanwhile, all the townspeople were overcome with grief.
अस्या दोषेण पापाया मृतश्च स महीपतिः ६.६२.
Because of the fault of this sinful woman, that king also died.
तस्मादद्यापि पापैषा वध्यतामाशु कन्यका
Therefore, even today, let this sinful maiden be put to death at once.
वैराग्यं परमं गत्वा निंदां चक्रे तथात्मनः
Having attained supreme detachment, she reproached herself.
अथ दृष्टं तया क्षेत्रं हाटकेश्वरजं महत्
Then she saw the great field of Hāṭakeśvara.
अथ तस्याः स्मृतिर्जाता पूर्वजन्मसमुद्भवा
Then, memory of her previous birth arose in her.
तत्प्रभावादहं जाता सुपुण्ये नृपमंदिरे
By the power of that, I was born in the palace of a king, in great merit.
सूत उवाच अन्यदेहांतरे ह्यासीच्चंडाली सा विगर्हिता
Sūta said: In another birth, that woman, despised, was born as a cāṇḍālī.
अथ सा भ्रममाणाऽत्र क्षेत्रे प्राप्ता तृषार्दिता ६.६२.
Then, as she wandered in that region, she was overcome by thirst.
अथापश्यत्स्तोकजलां सा तत्र लघुकूपिकाम्
There she saw a small well containing a little water.
ततो दयां समाश्रित्य त्यक्त्वा स्नेहं सुतोद्भवम्
Relying on compassion, she abandoned the affection arising from her children.
जलाभावे तथा सा च समस्तैर्बालकैः सह
In the absence of water, she remained there with all the children.
ततो नृपगृहे जाता तत्प्रभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, by the power of that act, she was born in the house of a king, O best of Brāhmaṇas.
स्वकुलोच्छेदनकरी सर्वं सूत ब्रवीहि नः
O Sūta, tell us everything that caused the destruction of her lineage.
देवतायतने दृष्टा गौरी हेममयी शुभा
In a temple of the goddess, she saw Gaurī, auspicious and made of gold.
ततस्तां विजने प्राप्य गत्वा देशांतरं मुदा तावदन्वेषमाणास्तां संप्राप्ता नृपसेवकाः
Then, finding her alone, she went joyfully to another land; meanwhile, the king’s servants, searching for her, found her.
अथ ते तां समालोक्य भर्त्सयित्वा मुहुर्मुहुः
Seeing her, they scolded her again and again.