एकविंशतिमे प्राप्ते ततश्च पितृतर्पणे
When the twenty-first day arrived, then came the offering to the ancestors.
रामराम महाभाग त्यजैतत्कर्म गर्हितम्
O Rama, O Rama, greatly fortunate one, abandon this act, for it is censured.
यत्त्वया विहितं कर्म नैतदन्यः करिष्यति
The act you have performed, no other will accomplish.
तस्मात्तुष्टा वयं वत्स दास्यामश्चित्त वांछितम्। प्रार्थयस्व द्रुतं तस्माद्दुर्लभं त्रिदशैरपि
Therefore, we are pleased, child, and will grant you the desire of your heart; ask swiftly, for even the gods find it difficult to obtain.
राम उवाच। पितरो यदि तुष्टा मे यच्छंति यदि वांछितम्। तस्मात्तीर्थमिदं पुण्यं मन्नाम्ना लोकविश्रुतम्। रक्तदोषविनिर्मुक्तं सेवितं वरतापसैः
Rama said: If my ancestors are pleased and grant me what I desire, then let this sacred place, renowned in the world by my name, be free from the stain of blood and served by noble ascetics.
पितर ऊचुः। पितृतर्पणजा गर्ता त्वया येयं विनिर्मिता। रामह्रद इति ख्यातिं प्रयास्यति जगत्त्रये
The ancestors said: The pit you have made for the offering to the ancestors will become known throughout the three worlds as 'Rama Lake.'
यत्र भक्तियुता लोकास्तर्पयिष्यंति वै पितॄन्
There, people endowed with devotion will indeed offer oblations to their ancestors.
कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां मासि भाद्रपदे नरः
On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, in the month of Bhādrapada, a person—
अपि प्रेतत्वमापन्नं नरके वा समाश्रितम्
Even one who has become a departed soul or who resides in hell—
सूत उवाच रामोऽपि च तपस्तेपे तत्रैव क्रोधवर्जितः॥६.६९.
Sūta said: And Rama performed austerities there, free from anger.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तत्र शस्त्रहतस्य च
Therefore, with all effort, even for one slain by weapons—
उपसर्ग मृतानां च सर्पाग्निविषबन्धनैः
And for those who died from afflictions caused by serpents, fire, poison, or bondage—
यः पितॄंस्तर्पयेत्तत्र प्रेतपक्षे जलैरपि
Whoever offers oblations to the ancestors there, even with water, during the fortnight of the departed—
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं रामह्रदसमुद्भवम्
All this has been told to you, concerning the origin of Rama Lake.
श्राद्धकाले नरो भक्त्या यश्चैतत्पठति स्वयम्
At the time of the śrāddha, whoever recites this himself with devotion—
पर्वकाले ऽथवा प्राप्ते पठेद्ब्राह्मणसंनिधौ
Or recites it at the time of a festival, or in the presence of Brahmins—
शृणुयाद्वापि यो भक्त्या कीर्त्यमानमिदं नरः
Or whoever hears this being recited with devotion—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्या संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये रामह्रदोत्पत्तिवृत्तान्तवर्णनंनामैकोनसप्ततितमोऽ ध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-ninth chapter, called 'The Account of the Origin of Rama Lake,' in the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra Māhātmya of the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
कार्तिकेयेन निर्मुक्ता हत्वा वै तारकं रणे
Having been released by Kārtikeya, Tāraka was slain in battle.
तथास्ति सुमहत्कुण्डं स्वच्छोदकसमावृतम् स पापान्मुच्यते सद्य आजन्ममरणांति कात्
There is, moreover, a very great pond there, filled with clear water; one is freed from sins at once, from birth to death, by it.
किमर्थं स्वामिना तत्र किंप्रभावा वद स्वयम्
For what reason, O Lord, is it there? By what power? Tell me yourself.
हिरण्याक्षस्य दायादस्त्रैलोक्यस्य भयावहः
He is the heir of Hiraṇyākṣa, a terror to the three worlds.
स ज्ञात्वा जनकं ध्वस्तं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Knowing that his father had been destroyed by Viṣṇu, the mighty lord,
यावद्वर्षसहस्रांतं शीर्णपर्णा शनः स्थितः
He remained for a thousand years, subsisting on fallen leaves, gradually.
वरुपूजोपहारैश्च नैवेद्यैर्विविधैस्ततः
With various offerings, worship, and gifts, and with diverse foods,
ज्ञात्वा रुद्रमसंतुष्टं ततो रौद्रं तपोऽकरोत्
Recognizing Rudra as satisfied, then he performed fierce austerity.
ततस्तुष्टो महादेवो वृषारूढ उमापतिः
Then the great god, Mahādeva, mounted on the bull, husband of Umā, was pleased.
तत्र प्रोवाच संहृष्टस्तारनादेन नादयन् ६.७०.
There, delighted, he spoke, resounding with the roar of Tāraka.
भोभोस्तारक तुष्टोऽस्मि साहसं मेदृशं कुरु
O Tāraka, I am pleased with you; perform such a feat.
अजेयः सर्वदेवानां त्वत्प्रसादादहं विभो
By your favor, O Lord, I am unconquerable by all the gods.