तथा तद्धृतराष्ट्रेण लिंगं पातकनाशनम्
In this way, by Dhritarashtra, the liṅga that destroys sins was established.
यस्तानि पुरुषः सम्यक्पूजयेद्भक्तिभावितः
Whoever properly worships those with devotion and faith—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठेनागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये कौरवपाण्डवयादवकृतलिंग प्रतिष्ठावृत्तांतवर्णनंनाम चतुःसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventy-fourth chapter, named 'The Account of the Installation of the Liṅga by the Kauravas, Pāṇḍavas, and Yādavas,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
रुद्रेण ब्रह्मणे दत्तं तुष्टेन द्विजसत्तमाः
Given by Rudra to Brahmā, when he was pleased, O best of twice-born,
यदा तु स्थापितं लिंगं हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितम्
When the liṅga named Hāṭakeśvara was established,
एतत्क्षेत्रं तदा दत्तं शंभुना षण्मुखस्य ह
At that time, this field was given by Śambhu to Ṣaṇmukha.
ब्रह्मणा प्रार्थितेनेदं स्वयमादिममुत्तमम्
At Brahmā's request, this most excellent and original place was given by him himself.
कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे यः कुर्यात्स्वामिदर्शनम्
Whoever beholds the Lord there during Kārttikā, when the Kṛttikā stars are in conjunction,
महासेनस्य देवस्य प्रासादं सुमनोहरम्
The temple of the god Mahāsena is exceedingly beautiful.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विबुधाः सर्वे कौतुकादेत्य सत्वरम्
Hearing this, all the gods came quickly out of curiosity.
प्रासादस्योत्तरे देशे प्राच्ये देशे तथा द्विजाः
In the northern and eastern regions of the temple, O twice-born,
इष्ट्वा च विबुधाः सर्वे दत्त्वा तेभ्यश्च दक्षिणाम्
Having performed worship, all the gods gave them gifts as honoraria.
ततस्तु देवयजनंनाम तस्य बभूव ह तदत्रैकेन लभते क्रतुना दक्षिणावता ॥ ६.७५.
Then, it became known as the 'Gods' Sacrificial Ground'; there, with a single sacrifice, one obtains the reward of a sacrifice with gifts.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये यज्ञ भूमिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पञ्चसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventy-fifth chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of the Sacrificial Ground,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.
यैस्तुष्टैस्त्रिषु लोकेषु मानवो मुक्तिमाप्नुयात्
By those who are pleased in the three worlds, a man attains liberation.
मुण्डीरं प्रथमं तत्र कालप्रियं तथापरम्
First is Muṇḍīra, then Kālapriya follows after.
तत्र संक्रमते सूर्यो मुंडीरे रजनीक्षये
There, when the night ends, the sun passes into Muṇḍīra.
तस्मिन्काले नरो भक्त्या पश्येदप्येकमेवच
At that time, a man may, with devotion, see even one alone.
मध्ये कालप्रियो देवो मूलस्थानं तदन्तरे
In the middle stands Kālapriya, the god, whose root-place is within.
तत्कथं ते त्रयस्तत्र संजाताः सूत भास्कराः
How, then, were those three born there, O Sūta, the Bhāskaras?
समुद्रवीचिसंसक्तप्रोच्चप्राकारमण्डनम्
Adorned with lofty walls joined to waves of the ocean.
तत्राभूद्ब्राह्मणः कश्चित्कुष्ठव्याधिसमन्वितः
There was a certain brāhmaṇa afflicted with leprosy.
तस्य भार्याऽभवत्साध्वी कुलीना शीलमंडना
His wife was virtuous, noble-born, adorned with good conduct.
औषधानि विचित्राणि महार्घ्याण्यपि चाददे ६.७६.
She took various medicines, even those of great value.
तथा भिषग्वरान्नित्यमानिनाय च सादरम्
She also regularly brought the best physicians with respect.
यथायथा स गृह्णाति भेषजानि द्विजोत्तमाः
As he accepted the remedies, O best of twice-born, each in turn.
अथैवं वर्तमानस्य तस्य विप्रवरस्य च
Thus, as that excellent brāhmaṇa continued in this way,
अथ विप्रं गृहं प्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा तस्य सती प्रिया
Then, seeing the brāhmaṇa arrive at home, his beloved wife,
अथ तं स्नातमाचांतं कृताहारं द्विजोत्तमम्
Then, seeing him bathed, purified, and fed, that best of brāhmaṇas,
तेजोऽन्वितं यथा भानुं रूपौदार्यगुणान्वितम्
Endowed with brilliance like the sun, possessing beauty and noble qualities,