अथ कर्मावसाने स भगवांस्त्रिपुरांतकः
Then, at the conclusion of the rites, the blessed Tripurāntaka,
वैवाहिकी सुरश्रेष्ठ यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभा
O best of gods, though the marriage rite is extremely rare,
त्वया स्थेयं सदैवात्र नृणां पापविशुद्धये
You must always remain here for the purification of people's sins.
येन ते सन्निधौ कृत्वा स्वाश्रमं शशिशेखर
By establishing their own hermitage in your presence, O moon-crested one,
चैत्रशुक्लत्रयोदश्यां नक्षत्रे भगदैवते तदैव तस्य पापानि प्रयास्यन्ति च संक्षयम् ॥ ६.७७.
On the thirteenth day of the bright half of Caitra, under the star Bhagadaivata, at that very time, his sins will depart and be destroyed.
या नारी दुर्भगा वन्ध्या काणा रूपविवर्जिता प्रजावती सुभोगाढ्या सुभगा नात्र संशयः
Any woman who is unfortunate, barren, blind, or lacking beauty, will become blessed, wealthy, and fruitful—there is no doubt.
स्थास्यामि सहितः पत्न्या सत्यात्व द्वचनाद्विधे
I will remain here together with my wife, by the command of truth and word.
विद्यते वेदिमध्यस्थो लोकानां पापनाशनः
He stands in the center of the altar, the destroyer of the sins of the worlds.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यथा तस्य पुराऽभवत्
All this has been told to you, as it happened to him in ancient times.
विवाहसमये प्राप्ते प्रारम्भे वा शृणोति यः तस्याऽविघ्नं भवेत्सर्वं कर्म वैवाहिकं च यत्
Whoever listens at the time or beginning of a marriage, all obstacles are removed from their wedding rites and every related action.
कन्या च सुखसौभाग्य शीलाचारगुणान्विता
And the maiden was endowed with happiness, good fortune, virtue, conduct, and qualities.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां सहितायां षष्ठे नागरखंडे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये हराश्रयवेदिकामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventy-seventh chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of the Haraśraya Altar' in the section on the greatness of Śrīhāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
वालखिल्यैश्च तैः सर्वैर्मुनिभिः शंसितव्रतैः
And by all those Vālakhilya sages, who were devoted to vows,
सम्यक्छ्रद्धाप्रयत्नेन ब्रह्मणा विहितं तपः
Austerity was performed, as prescribed by Brahmā, with proper faith and effort.
पश्चिमे वालखिल्यैश्च जपस्नानपरायणैः आश्रमे चतुरास्यस्य तद्वो वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम्
In the west, by the Vālakhilyas, who were devoted to recitation and bathing, in the hermitage of the four-faced one, I will now tell you about that.
तत्र दुश्चारिणी काचिद्रात्रौ ब्राह्मणवंशजा
There, at night, a certain woman of Brahmin lineage, who behaved improperly,
अज्ञाता पतिना मात्रा तथान्यैरपि बांधवैः
Was unknown to her husband, mother, and other relatives.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दृष्टा सा केनचि द्द्विजाः
Then, after some time, she was seen by someone, O twice-born ones.
अथासौ कोपसंयुक्तस्तस्या भर्ता सुनिष्ठुरैः
Then her husband, filled with anger, harshly confronted her.
अथ सा धार्ष्ट्यमासाद्य स्त्रीस्वभावं समाश्रिता
Then she, becoming bold and relying on her feminine nature,
किं मां दुर्जनवाक्येन त्वं ताडयसि निष्ठुरैः
Why do you strike me harshly because of the words of wicked people?
अहं त्वां शपथं कृत्वा भक्षयित्वाऽथ वा विषम् ६.७८.
I will take an oath, and either eat poison or,
अथ तां ब्राह्मणः प्राह यदि त्वं पापवर्जिता
Then the Brahmin said to her, 'If you are free from sin,'
सा तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय साहसेन समन्विता
She agreed, saying 'so be it,' and was filled with determination.
शुद्धिं च प्राप्ता सर्वेषां बन्धूनां च द्विजन्मनाम्
She attained purity in the eyes of all her relatives and the twice-born.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तस्याः साधुवादो महानभूत्
Meanwhile, great approval arose for her.
अहो पापसमाचारो दुष्टोऽयं ब्राह्मणाधमः
Ah! What sinful conduct—this wicked, fallen Brahmin!
एवं स निन्द्यमानस्तु सर्वलोकैर्द्विजोत्तमाः
Thus, being reviled by all the worlds, O best of twice-born,
शापं दातुं मतिं चक्रे ततो वह्नेः सुदुःखितः
He resolved, deeply distressed, to pronounce a curse upon Agni.
मया स्वयं प्रदृष्टेयं जारेण सह संगता
I myself have seen her united with her lover.