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.
तस्या देव्याः प्रसादेन सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
By the grace of that goddess, this is truly declared by me.
हितकृत्सर्वलोकस्य यथा माता यथा पिता
She acts for the welfare of all the worlds, like a mother, like a father.
चिंतितं मनसा पश्चात्स्वयमेव महात्मना न कृतं न करिष्यंति ये भविष्यन्त्यतः परम्
What was contemplated in the mind afterward by the great soul, was neither done nor will be done by those who come after.
एष एव परो धर्मो भूपतीनामुदाहृतः
This alone is declared as the highest duty of kings.
यथायथा करं भूपास्ता मां गृह्णंति लोलुपाः
As greedy kings seize my tribute in whatever manner they can,
न करेण विना भूपा हस्त्यश्वादिबलं च यत्
Without tribute, kings possess neither the force of elephants, horses, nor other armies.
विना तेन स गम्यः स्यान्नीचानामपि सत्वरम्
Without it, even the lowest can swiftly reach their goal.
तस्मान्मया विनाप्याशु नागैश्चैव नरैस्तथा ६.९५.
Therefore, even without me, and likewise without elephants or men,
करानगृह्णता तेन लोकान्रंजयता सदा
By not accepting tribute, one always delights the worlds.
एवं चित्ते समाधाय वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्
Thus, having resolved this in his mind, he approached Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage.