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.
त्वया यत्प्रार्थितं दैत्य त्वमेको बलवानिह
Whatever you have requested, O Daitya, you alone are powerful here.
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवः स्वमेव भवनं गतः
Having spoken thus, Mahādeva returned to his own abode.
ततो दानवसैन्येन महता परिवारितः
Then, surrounded by a great army of Dānavas,
अथाभवन्महायुद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह
Then there was a great battle between the gods and the Dānavas.
तत्राभवत्क्षयो नित्यं देवानां रणमूर्धनि
There, destruction always befell the gods at the height of battle.
ततश्चक्रुरुपायांस्ते विजयाय दिवौकसः
Then the dwellers of heaven devised means for victory.
अन्यान्यपि शरीरस्य रक्षणार्थं प्रयत्नतः
Other means too, for the protection of the body, were diligently employed.
ससृजुस्ते सुराधीशा दानवेभ्यो दिवानिशम् ॥ ६.७०.
The lords of the gods created these, day and night, against the Dānavas.
मुद्गरा भिंडिपालाश्च शतघ्न्योऽथ वरेषवः विशेषाहवसंबन्धव्यूहानां प्रक्रियाश्च याः
Maces, slings, machines for hurling a hundred missiles, and excellent arrows, as well as the arrangements for special battles and formations—
तथान्यानि विचित्राणि कूटयुद्धान्यनेकशः
And likewise, many other varied and cunning forms of warfare.