तं दृष्ट्वा स प्रणम्योच्चै स्ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्
Seeing him, he bowed deeply and then spoke to him with respect.
परिक्षीणोऽस्मि विप्रेंद्र क्षयव्याधिप्रभावतः
I am depleted, O foremost of Brāhmins, due to the influence of a wasting disease.
मया चिकित्सकाः पृष्टास्तैरुक्तं भेषजं कृतम्
I have consulted physicians; they prescribed medicine, which I have taken.
यदि नैवोपदेशं मे कञ्चित्त्वं संप्रदास्यसि ६.६३.
If you do not now impart some instruction to me—
शक्यते किं पुनस्तस्य दक्षस्यामिततेजसः
What remedy is possible for that mighty Dakṣa, whose energy is boundless?
तस्मादत्रोपदेशं ते प्रयच्छामि सुसंमतम्
Therefore, I will give you here a well-considered teaching.
नादेयं किंचिदस्तीह देवदेवस्य शूलिनः
There is nothing unattainable here for the trident-bearing Lord of the gods.
अष्टषष्टिषु तीर्थेषु सत्यं वासः सदा क्षितौ
Among the sixty-eight tīrthas, dwelling always on earth is true.
आराधय ततो नित्यं श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
Therefore, worship Him daily with a mind purified by faith.
तस्मिन्प्रभासके क्षेत्रे दिव्यलिंगानि शूलिनः
In that field of Prabhāsa are divine liṅgas of the trident-holder.
ततस्तुष्टो महादेवस्तस्य संदर्शनं गतः
Then, Mahādeva, pleased, appeared before him.
चन्द्र उवाच परं क्षीणोऽस्मि देवेश यक्ष्मणाहं पदांतिकम्
Candra spoke: O Lord of gods, I am utterly depleted, afflicted by consumption to the point of death.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवान्वृषभध्वजः
Hearing those words, the blessed Bull-bannered One—
एष चंद्रस्त्वया शप्तो जामाता न कृतं शुभम् ६.६३.
This Candra was cursed by you; your son-in-law did not perform auspicious deeds.
नाकरोन्मे पुरः प्रोच्य करिष्यामीत्य सत्यवाक्
He did not act, though he said, 'I will do it,' speaking truthfully before you.
तेन शप्तस्तु कोपेन सुतार्थे वृषभध्वज
Thus, out of anger for his daughter's sake, the Bull-bannered One cursed him.
समाः संवीक्षते नित्यं मम वाक्यादसंशयम्
He constantly observes the months, without doubt, according to my command.
तस्मात्पक्षं क्षयं यातु पक्षं वृद्धिं प्रगच्छतु
Therefore, let one fortnight wane and the other grow.
ततो दक्षस्तथेत्युक्त्वा जगाम निजमन्दिरम्
Then Daksha, having said 'So be it,' went to his own abode.
भूयोऽपि प्रार्थयाभीष्टं मत्तस्त्वं शशलांछन
Again, O moon-marked one, you may request your desired boon from me.
चन्द्र उवाच यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम संनिधानं त्वया कार्यं लोकानां हित काम्यया
The Moon said: If you are pleased, Lord of gods, and if a boon is to be granted to me, let your presence be established for the welfare of the worlds.
सोमवारेण सांनिध्यं करिष्ये वचनात्तव
On Mondays, I shall grant my presence, as you have said.
एवमुक्त्वा स देवेशस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः
Having spoken thus, the Lord of gods then became invisible.
सुता दक्षस्य विप्रेंद्रा शंकरस्य वचः स्मरन् ६.६३.
O best of Brahmins, the daughters of Daksha, remembering the words of Shankara—
एवं सोमेश्वरास्तत्र बभूवुर्द्विजसत्तमाः
Thus, O best of twice-born, the Lords of Soma were established there.
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये सोमनाथोत्पत्तिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रिषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-third chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of the Origin of Somanatha,' in the section on the Glory of Hatakeshvara Kshetra, in the sixth book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Purana.
चमत्कारनरेंद्रेण स्थापिता श्रद्धया पुरा
Once, by the king of marvels, it was established with faith.
यया स महिषः पूर्वं निहतो दानवो रणे
By whom, formerly, the buffalo-demon was slain in battle.
यदा तन्निर्मितं तत्र पुरं तेन महात्मना
When that city was built there by that great soul,
पुरस्य तस्य रक्षार्थं तथा तत्पुरवासिनाम्
For the protection of that city and its inhabitants,