यस्मिन्दिने समानीता सा गंगा तत्र विष्णुना
On the day when the Ganga was brought there by Vishnu—
तथान्येऽपि दिने तस्मिन्यदि तोयमवाप्य च ६.९३.
Likewise, on any other day, if one obtains that water—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये गोमुखतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रिनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-third chapter, called 'The Greatness of Gomukha Tirtha,' in the section on the greatness of Hatakeshvara Kshetra, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
तथान्या लोहयष्टिस्तु तस्मिन्क्षेत्रेऽतिशोभना
Likewise, there is another iron staff in that field, most splendid.
तां दृष्ट्वा मानवः सम्यगुपवासपरायणः
Seeing it, a man who is devoted to fasting—
निर्मिता लोहयष्टिः सा तत्रोत्सृष्टा च सा कुतः
That iron staff was made and left there; but where did it come from?
गतामर्षो द्विजेन्द्राणां दत्त्वा यज्ञे वसुन्धराम्
Having given the earth in sacrifice to the best of Brahmins, his anger gone—
ततः संप्रस्थितो हृष्टो धृत्वा मनसि सागरम्
Then, delighted, he set out, holding the ocean in his mind.
तदा स मुनिभिः प्रोक्तः सर्वैस्तत्क्षेत्रवासिभिः
At that time, he was addressed by all the sages and residents of that field.
रामराम महाभाग यद्धारयसि पाणिना
O Rama, Rama, greatly fortunate one, what you are holding in your hand—
अनेन करसंस्थेन तव कोपः कथंचन
With this held in your hand, how can your anger remain?
यदि चैनं मया मुक्तं कुठारं च द्विजोत्तमाः
If, O best of Brahmins, I have released this axe—
नापराधमिमं शक्तः सोढ़ुं चाहं कथंचन
I am in no way able to endure this offense.
तथापि नास्ति ते शांतिर्मुक्तेऽप्यस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमाः
Even so, O best of Brahmins, there is no peace for you, even if this is released.
अस्माकं तत्र भंक्त्वाशु पिंडं कृत्वा समर्पय
Break it there for us quickly, make an offering, and present it.
येन रक्षामहे सर्वे परमं यवमाश्रिताः
By this, we all, who depend supremely on barley, are protected.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः
Hearing those words, Rāma, the foremost among warriors,
ततः स ब्राह्मणेंद्राणामर्पयामास सादरम्
then respectfully offered it to the best of Brāhmaṇas.
वयं संरक्षयिष्यामः पूजयिष्याम एव हि
Indeed, we shall protect and honor it.
यथा शक्तिमयी कीर्तिः स्कन्दस्यात्र प्रतिष्ठिता ६.९४.
Just as the fame of Skanda is established here to the best of our ability.
भ्रष्टराज्यस्तु यो राजा एनामाराधयिष्यति
Any king who has lost his kingdom and worships her,
विद्याकृते द्विजो वा यः सदैनां पूजयिष्यति
or any Brāhmaṇa who always worships her for the sake of knowledge,
अपुत्रो वा नरो योऽथ नारी वा पूजयिष्यति
or any man without a son, or woman, who worships her,
उपवासपरो भूत्वा यश्चैनां पूजयिष्यति
or whoever worships her with devotion while observing a fast,
एवं श्रुत्वा ततो रामस्तेषामेव द्विजन्मनाम्
Having heard thus, Rāma then, for those very twice-born,
तेऽपि विप्रास्ततस्तस्याश्चक्रुः प्रासादमुत्तमम्
those Brāhmaṇas there constructed an excellent temple for her.
प्राप्नुवंति च तत्पार्श्वात्कामानेव हृदि स्थितान् ६.९४.
And from her side, they obtain the desires that dwell in their hearts.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये लोहयष्टिमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्णवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-fourth chapter, entitled 'The Glory of the Iron Staff,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Mahāpurāṇa called the Skānda.
अजापालेन भूपेन स्थापिता पापनाशनी
Established by King Ajāpāla, it destroys sin.
तां च शुक्लचतुर्दश्यामजापालेश्वरीं नरः स प्राप्नोतीप्सितान्कामान्दुर्लभा सर्वमानवैः
Whoever worships Ajāpāleśvarī on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight attains the desired wishes, which are difficult for all humans to obtain.