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,
एवं लावण्ययुक्तोऽपि किमेकाकी यथार्तिभाक्
Thus, though endowed with charm, why is he alone, as one afflicted?
सुस्थितैः सेविता नित्यं जनैर्धर्मव्रतान्वितैः
Always served by those established in dharma and vows.
तस्यामहं कृतावासो गृहस्थाश्रममावहन्
There I took up residence and entered the householder stage of life.
ततः श्रुतं मया तावत्पुराणे स्कान्दसंज्ञिते ६.७६.
Then I heard the Skanda Purana, so named, being recited.
ततो निर्वेदमापन्नो भेषजैः क्लेशितश्चिरम्
Afterwards, I became disillusioned, having suffered long from medicines.
ततो विनिश्चयं चित्ते कृत्वा गृह्य धनं महत्
Then, having resolved in my mind, I gathered great wealth.
ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय नित्यं पश्यामि तं विभुम्
Thereafter, rising each morning, I regularly beheld that glorious Lord.
सूर्यवारे विशेषेण निराहारो यतेन्द्रियः
Especially on Sundays, I fasted and restrained my senses.
ततः संवत्सरस्यांते तं प्रणम्य दिनाधिपम्
Then, at the end of the year, I bowed to the Lord of the day.
तेनैव विधिना विप्र तस्यापि दिवसेशितुः
O Brahmin, on that day also, I worshipped the Lord of the day in the same manner.