तस्य चायतने पुण्ये योगात्प्राणान्परित्यजेत् ॥ प्रायोपवेशनं कृत्वा न स भूयोऽपि जायते
If one gives up life through yogic practice in that sacred sanctuary, having undertaken the fast unto death, he is not born again.
अपि पाप समाचारः कौलो वा निर्घृणोऽपि वा ६.८२.
Even one who acts sinfully, or is a follower of the Kaula path, or is cruel—
त्रिकालं पूजयन्यस्तु श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा ॥। संवत्सरं वसेत्सोऽपि शिवलोके महीयते
Whoever worships three times a day with a mind purified by faith, even if he stays for a year, is honored in the world of Shiva.
अथवा सोमवारेण यस्तं पश्यति मानवः
Or, if a person sees him on a Monday—
सोऽपि याति न संदेहः पुरुषः शिवमन्दिरे
That person too, without doubt, goes to the temple of Shiva.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कलिकाले विशेषतः
Therefore, with all effort, especially in the age of Kali—
संत्याज्याश्च तथा प्राणास्तदग्रेप्रायसंश्रितैः
One should give up life there, having taken the vow before him.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये सुपर्णेश्वराख्यमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्व्यशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-two thousand verses, in the sixth Nāgara-khaṇḍa, in the greatness of the holy Haṭakeśvara-kshetra, this is the eighty-second chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Suparṇeśvara.'
अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि पुराणे यदुदाहृतम्
I shall recount to you what has been declared in the Purāṇa.
वेणुर्नाम महीपालः पुरासीत्सूर्यवंशजः
There was formerly a king named Veṇu, born of the solar dynasty.
शासनानि प्रदत्तानि ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्
Edicts were issued for the great-souled Brahmins.
विध्वंसिताः स्त्रियो नैका विधवाश्च विशेषतः ४ कुमार्यो रूपवत्यश्च तथा निज कुलोद्भवाः
Many women were destroyed, especially widows, as well as beautiful maidens born in their own families.
देवताराधनं पूजां कर्तुं नैव ददाति सः
He did not permit the worship or honoring of the deities.
प्रोवाचाथ जनान्सर्वान्मां पूजयत सर्वदा
Then he said to all the people, 'Always worship me.'
मया तुष्टेन सर्वेषां संपत्स्यति हृदि स्थितम्
If I am pleased, all that is desired will arise in the hearts of all.
तेन शस्त्रविहीनानां विश्वस्तानां वधः कृतः
By him, those without weapons and trusting were killed.
अचौराः प्रगृहीताश्च चौराः संरक्षिताः सदा ६.८३.
The innocent were seized, while thieves were always protected.
न कृतं च व्रतं तेन श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
He did not perform any vow with a mind purified by faith.
एवं तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य पापासक्तस्य नित्यशः
Thus, that king, always attached to sin,
ततस्तं व्याधिना ग्रस्तं पुत्रपौत्रविवर्जितम्
Then, afflicted by disease, deprived of sons and grandsons,
तं च निर्वासयामासुस्तस्माद्देशात्पदातिकम्
He was exiled on foot from that land.
सोऽपि सर्वैः परित्यक्तस्तेन पापेन कर्मणा
He too was abandoned by all because of that sinful deed.
एकाकी भ्रममाणोऽथ सोऽपि कष्टवशं गतः
Alone, wandering, he too came under the sway of suffering.
ततः प्रासादमासाद्य सुपर्णाख्यसमुद्भवम्
Then, reaching a palace called Suparṇa,
ततो दिव्यवपुर्भूत्वाविमानवरमाश्रितः
Thereafter, taking on a divine form, he entered a splendid celestial vehicle.
सेव्यमानोप्सरोभिश्च स्तूयमानश्च किन्नरैः
He was attended by Apsarases and praised by Kinnaras.
अथ तं संनिधौ दृष्ट्वा गौरी पप्रच्छ सादरम् अनेन किं कृतं कर्म यत्प्राप्तोऽत्र विभूतिधृक् ॥ ६.८३.
Then, seeing him present, Gauri respectfully asked, 'By what deed has he attained this state of glory here?'
वेणुसंज्ञो धरापृष्ठे कुष्ठव्याधिसमाकुलः
Known as Venu on earth, he was afflicted with the disease of leprosy.
स संत्यक्तो निजैर्दारैः शत्रुवर्गेण धर्षितः
He, abandoned by his own wives and oppressed by the enemy faction,
उपवासपरिश्रांतः सांनिध्यं मम यत्र च
Exhausted by fasting, came to my presence.