तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तां देवीमिह संश्रयेत्
Therefore, with every effort, one should take refuge in that goddess here.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये चमत्कारीदुर्गामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुःषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-fourth chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Camatkārī Durgā,' in the section on the greatness of Śrī Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
यत्रानर्तो नृपः सिद्धः सुहयो नाम नामतः
Where the king named Anarta, known as Suhaya, attained perfection—
तेनैव भूभुजा तत्र लिंगं संस्थापितं शुभम्
By that very ruler, a pure liṅga was established there.
तत्रांगारकषष्ठ्यां यस्तडागे स्नानमाचरेत्
Whoever bathes in the pond there on the sixth day of Aṅgāraka—
सर्वं कथय तत्सूत सर्वं वेत्सि न संशयः
Tell me everything, Sūta; you know it all, without doubt.
सर्वारिभिर्हतो युद्धे पलायनपरायणः
Slain in battle by all his enemies, he was intent on fleeing.
अथ तस्य कपालं च कापालिक व्रतान्वितः
Then, taking up a skull, he observed the vows of a Kāpālika.
आनर्तेश्वरसांनिध्ये वसमानो वने स्थितः
Dwelling in the forest, in the presence of Ānarteśvara,
तडागोत्थेन संपूर्णं रात्रौ कृत्वा प्रमुंचति धनी भृत्यसमोपेतः सदा पुण्यपरायणः
At night, after filling it with water from the pond, he releases it—wealthy, surrounded by servants, always devoted to merit.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पण्यबुद्ध्या द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, at some point in time, with a mercantile mindset, O best of twice-born,
अथ प्राप्तः क्रमात्सर्वैः स गच्छन्मरुमंडल म् ६.६५.
Afterwards, having arrived in turn, all proceeded toward the desert region.
तत्र रात्रिं समासाद्य श्रांताः पांथाः समन्ततः
There, upon reaching nightfall, the weary travelers settled all around.
ततः प्रत्यूषमासाद्य समुत्थाय च सत्वरम्
Then, at dawn, rising quickly,
स वै मार्गपरिश्रांतो गत्वा निद्रावशं भृशम्
He, exhausted from the journey, went and fell deeply under the sway of sleep.
न च तैः स स्मृतः सार्थैर्यैः समं प्रस्थितो गृहात्
But he was not remembered by those companions with whom he had set out from home.
एवं गते ततः सार्थे प्रोद्गते सूर्यमंडले
When things had thus transpired, and the caravan had departed as the sun rose,
एवं तस्य तृषार्तस्य पतितस्य धरातले
Thus, as he lay fallen upon the ground, tormented by thirst,
ततः किंचित्ससंज्ञोऽभून्मंदीभूते दिवाकरे
Then, as the sun grew faint, he regained a little consciousness.
न लक्ष्यते क्वचिन्मार्गो दृश्यते न च मानुषम् ६.६५.
Nowhere could the path be discerned, nor was any person seen.
एवं चिन्ताप्रपन्नस्य तस्य शूद्रस्य निर्जने
Thus, as that Śūdra found himself in anxious thought, alone in the wilderness,
अथ क्षणेन शुश्राव स गीतं मधुरध्वनि
Then, in a moment, he heard a song with a sweet sound.
अथापश्यत्क्षणेनैव प्रेतसंघैः सभावृतम्
And in that very instant, he saw himself surrounded by a host of spirits.
ततस्ते पार्श्वगाः प्रेता एके नृत्यं प्रचक्रिरे
Then, some of the spirits nearby began to dance.
अथासौ प्राह तं शूद्रमतिथे कुरु भोजनम्
Then one of them said to the Śūdra, 'Prepare food for the guest.'
ततः स भोजनं चक्रे क्षुधार्तश्च पपौ जलम्
Thereupon, he made a meal and, hungry, drank water.
ततः प्रेताश्च ते सर्वे प्रेतत्वेन समन्विताः
Then all those spirits, endowed with their ghostly nature,
एवं तेषां समस्तानां विलासैः पार्थिवोचितैः
Thus, with all their amusements suited to earthly ways,
ततः प्रभाते विमले प्रोद्गते रविमंडले
Then, at dawn, when the sky was clear and the sun had risen,
ततश्च चिन्तयामास किमेतत्स्वप्नदर्शनम् ६.६५.
He began to ponder, 'What is the meaning of this dream vision?'