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.
अत्र भूमितले विप्र सर्वेषां तीर्थमुत्तमम् वासुदेवोऽथवा ब्रह्मा ह्येतच्छीघ्रं वदस्व मे
O brāhmaṇa, on this earth, which is the supreme pilgrimage for all—Vāsudeva or Brahmā? Tell me this quickly.
येनाहं सर्वलोकस्य हितार्थं तप आददे
By which I may undertake austerity for the welfare of all the worlds.
तिस्रः कोट्योर्धकोटी च तीर्थानामिह भूतले
There are thirty million and more sacred places here on earth.
अष्टषष्टिस्तथा राजन्क्षेत्राणामस्ति भूतले
And, O king, there are sixty-eight fields upon the earth.
तथा सर्वे सुरास्तुष्टा ब्रह्मविष्णु शिवादयः
Thus, all the gods are pleased, including Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others.
हाटकेश्वरदेवस्य क्षेत्रं पातकनाशनम्
The field of Haṭakeśvara Deva is the destroyer of sins.
शीघ्रमाराधिता सम्यक्छ्रद्धायुक्तैर्नरैर्भुवि आराधय महाभाग द्रुतं सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि
If worshipped swiftly and properly by men endowed with faith on earth, O fortunate one, worship and you will quickly attain perfection.
एवमुक्तः स तेनाथ गत्वा तत्क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् ६.९५.
Thus addressed by him, he then went to that supreme field.
ब्रह्मचर्यपरो भूत्वा शुचिर्व्रतपरायणः
Becoming devoted to celibacy, pure, and dedicated to vows,
एवमाराध्यतस्तत्र गन्धपुष्पानुलेपनैः
Thus, he worshipped there with fragrances, flowers, and ointments.