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,
यस्तामभ्यर्चयेत्सम्यङ्महानवमिवासरे
Whoever worships her properly on the great ninth day,
भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यः शत्रुतश्च विशेषतः
From ghosts, spirits, and especially from enemies,
यंयं काममभिध्यायञ्छुक्लाष्टम्यां नरः शुचिः
Whatever desire a pure man contemplates on the bright eighth day,
निष्कामः सुखमाप्नोति मोक्षं नास्त्यत्र संशयः
Without desire, he attains happiness; there is no doubt he attains liberation.
तामाराध्य गताः पूर्वं सिद्धिं भूरिर्महीभुजः
Having worshipped her, many kings of old attained success.
यस्तस्याः श्रद्धयोपेतः प्रकरोति प्रदक्षिणाम् ६.६४,
Whoever, endowed with faith, circumambulates her,
तस्या आयतने पूर्वमाश्चर्यमभवन्महत्
In her temple, there once occurred a great wonder.
आसीच्चित्ररथोनाम पूर्वं पार्थिवसत्तमः
There was once a king named Citraratha, foremost among rulers.
शुक्लाष्टम्यां सदा भक्त्या स तस्याः श्रद्धयान्वितः
On every bright eighth day, with devotion and faith, he worshipped her.
ततः प्रणम्य तां देवीं संप्रयाति पुनर्गृहम्
Then, having bowed to that goddess, he would return again to his home.
एवं तस्य नरेंद्रस्य प्रदक्षिणरतस्य च
Thus, that king, devoted to circumambulation,
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स राजा तत्र संगतः
Then, after some time, that king arrived there.
अग्रस्थांस्तान्द्विजान्सर्वान्नमश्चक्रे समाहितः
He respectfully greeted all the foremost Brahmins who stood before him.
ततस्तैः सहितैस्तत्र सहासीनः कथाः शुभाः
Then, seated there together with them, he engaged in auspicious conversations.
ततः कस्मिन्कथांते स पृष्टस्तैर्द्विजसत्तमैः
Thereafter, at the end of a certain conversation, he was questioned by those excellent Brahmins.
राजन्पृच्छामहे सर्वे त्वां वयं कौतुकान्विताः ६.६४.
O King, we all ask you, filled with curiosity.
मासिमासि सदाष्टम्यां त्वं शुक्लायां सुदूरतः
Month after month, on every bright eighth day, you come from afar,
यत्नेनान्याः परित्यज्य सर्वाः पूजादिकाः क्रियाः
Diligently abandoning all other rites such as worship,
रहस्यमपि वक्तव्यं युष्माकं सांप्रतं मया
Even if it is a secret, it must now be told to you all by me.
अहमास शुकः पूर्वमस्मिन्नायतने शुभे
Formerly, I was a parrot in this auspicious temple.