प्रोक्तव्यो भगवान्वाक्यं त्वया देवो जनार्दनः
You must convey this message, O sage, to the blessed god Janārdana.
तस्माद्भूभितले देव कृत्वा जन्म स्वयं विभो
Therefore, O Lord, you should yourself take birth on earth.
भारावतरणं भूमेः साकं देवैः सवासवैः
And, together with the gods and Indra, relieve the burden of the earth.
एवमुक्त्वाऽथ तं विष्णुर्नारदं मुनिपुंगवम्
Having spoken thus, Viṣṇu then addressed Nārada, the foremost of sages.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये सुपर्णाख्यमाहात्म्ये विष्णुदर्शनमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामाशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the eightieth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of the Vision of Viṣṇu,' in the section on the glory of Suparṇa, within the account of Śrī Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the eighty-eight-thousand-verse Śrī Skānda Mahāpurāṇa.
श्रीगरुड उवाच ममास्ति दयितं मित्रं ब्राह्मणो भृगुवंशजः
Śrī Garuḍa said: I have a dear friend, a brāhmaṇa descended from the lineage of Bhṛgu.
न तस्याः सदृशः कांतः प्राप्तस्तेन महात्मना अनुरूपं द्विजश्रेष्ठ यद्यहं संमतस्तव
No suitable husband has been found for her by that great soul; O best of twice-born, if I am agreeable to you as a match—
ततो मयाऽखिला भूमिस्तद्वरार्थं विलोकिता
Then, for the sake of that marriage, I have searched the entire earth.
ततस्त्वं पुण्डरीकाक्ष मम चित्ते व्यवस्थितः
Then, O lotus-eyed one, you have become established in my heart.
तस्मात्पाणिग्रहं तस्याः स्वीकुरुष्व सुरेश्वर
Therefore, O lord of the gods, accept her hand in marriage.
येन दृष्ट्वा स्वयं पश्चात्प्रकरोमि यथोदितम्
So that, having seen it myself afterwards, I may act as prescribed.
मया दूरे विनिर्मुक्ता तत्कथं तामिहानये
Since she was released by me far away, how can I bring her here?
न हि धक्ष्यति तस्मात्त्वं शीघ्रं द्विजवराऽऽनय
She will not be harmed; therefore, quickly bring the excellent Brahmins.
एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Thus addressed by the mighty Vishnu, he then spoke.
अथासौ प्रणिपत्योच्चैर्ब्राह्मणो मधुसूदनम् ६.८१.
Then the Brahmin, bowing deeply, addressed Madhusudana.
सापि कन्या वरारोहा बाल्यभावादनिन्दिता
That maiden, of excellent form, was blameless due to her childhood innocence.
अथ कोपपरीतांगी महिष्याधर्ममाश्रिता
Then, her body overcome by anger, the queen resorted to unrighteousness.
यस्मान्मे पुरतः पापे कांतस्य मम हर्षिता तस्मादश्वमुखी नूनं विकृता त्वं भविष्यसि
Because, O sinner, before me you rejoiced with my beloved, therefore you shall certainly become deformed, having the face of a horse.
एवं शापे श्रिया दत्ते हाहाकारो महानभूत्
When the curse was pronounced by Shri, a great outcry arose.
वाङ्मात्रेण न तस्याः स्यात्पत्नीभावः कथंचन
By mere words, she can never attain the status of a wife.
यावन्नाग्निद्विजातीनां प्रत्यक्षं गुरुसंनिधौ
Until the fire and the twice-born are present before the teacher.
एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेंद्रस्ततः प्रोवाच केशवम् तस्मात्तत्र प्रयास्यामि यत्र स्यात्तादृशी सुता
Having spoken thus, the foremost of Brahmins then said to Keshava: 'Therefore, I shall go there where such a daughter may be found.'
तस्मान्नाश्वमुखी ह्येषा जन्मन्यस्मिन्भविष्यति ६.८१.
Therefore, she will not be horse-faced in this birth.
सेयं तव सुता विप्र बंधुस्थानं समाश्रिता
This is your daughter, O Brahmin, established in the place of kinship.
अवतीर्णस्य भूपृष्ठे देवकार्येण केनचित्
Having descended upon the earth for some divine purpose.
ततोऽहं सुमहत्कृत्वा तपश्चैवानया सह
Then, having performed great austerities together with her.
एवं स भगवान्विप्रं तं सन्तोष्य तदा गिरा
Thus, having satisfied that sage with his words, the Blessed Lord at that time—
अथ तस्मिन्कथांते स गरुडः पुरुषोत्तमम्
Then, at the end of that conversation, Garuḍa addressed the Supreme Person—
अपूर्वेयं सुरश्रेष्ठ स्त्री वृद्धा तव पार्श्वगा
This woman by your side, O best of gods, is unprecedented and elderly.
शांडिलीनाम सर्वज्ञा ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणा
She is called Śāṇḍilī, all-knowing, devoted to celibacy.