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.
तपोवीर्यसमोपेता सर्वदेवाभिवंदिता
Endowed with the power of austerity, honored by all the gods.
प्रोवाच वासुदेवं च तां विलोक्य चिरं द्विजाः ॥ ६.८१.
The twice-born, having gazed at her for a long time, spoke to Vāsudeva.
यथा च दीयते दानं यच्च तत्रास्ति चाद्भुतम्
As gifts are given, and whatever wonder is there—
नाश्चर्यं चित्रमेतच्च ब्रह्मचर्यं तदद्भुतम्
This is not astonishing or marvelous; but celibacy—that is truly wondrous.
विशेषेण च नारीभिरत्र न श्रद्दधाम्यहम्
Especially among women, I do not believe this here.
विकारः खलु कर्तव्यो नाधि काराय यौवनम्
Indeed, change must occur; youth is not to be relied upon.
अन्योन्यं मैथुनं चक्रुः कामबाणप्रपीडिताः अप्येताः पुरुषाभावे मन्यंते पंचसायकम्
Afflicted by the arrows of desire, they have engaged in intercourse with each other; even in the absence of men, they consider the god of love with five arrows.
नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः
Just as fire is never satisfied with wood, nor the great ocean with rivers—
न परत्र भयादेता मर्यादां विदधुः स्त्रियः
Not out of fear for the next world do these women maintain restraint.
मौनव्रतधराऽप्येवं हृदि कोपं दधार सा
Even though she observed the vow of silence, she harbored anger in her heart.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तस्य पक्षिनाथस्य तत्क्षणात्
Meanwhile, at that very moment, for the lord of birds—
मांसपिंडमयो रौद्रः सर्वरोगविवर्जितः ॥ ६.८१.
A fierce being made of flesh appeared, free from all diseases.
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये सुपर्णपक्षपातवर्णनंनामैकाशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the sixth Nāgara-khaṇḍa, in the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara-kshetra, this is the eighty-first chapter, called 'The Description of Suparṇa's Partiality.'
विस्मितश्चिंतयामास किमिदं सांप्रतं स्थितम्
Astonished, he began to ponder: 'What is this that has now occurred?'
अपि वज्रप्रहारेण यस्य रोमापि न च्युतम्
Even when struck by the thunderbolt, not a single hair of his was dislodged.
नूनमेतेन या स्त्रीणां कृता निंदा महात्मना
Surely, by this act, a reproach against women was made by that great soul.
अनया पातितौ पक्षौ तपःशक्तिप्रभावतः
By her, both wings were cast down through the power and influence of her austerity.
ततः प्रसादयामास शांडिलीं गरुडध्वजः
Then the bearer of the Garuda banner sought to appease Shandili.
तत्किमर्थं महाभागे त्वया चैवेदृशः कृतः
O exalted one, for what reason did you perform such an act?
स्त्रीनिंदा विहितानेन स्वमत्यापि जगद्गुरो
By this, a reproach against women has been enacted, even by you, O teacher of the world.