प्रोवाचाथ स्तुतिं कृत्वा विनयावनतः स्थितः
Then, having made a hymn of praise, he stood bowed in humility.
तिरस्कारस्तथा दत्तस्तत्सर्वं क्षम्यतां विभो
The insult was thus given; let all that be forgiven, O Lord.
परितुष्टेन ते कर्म दृष्ट्वा चैवातिमानुषम्
With great satisfaction, seeing your deed, which was beyond human,
यथा कृतं त्वया राज्यं प्रजाः संरक्षिता नृप
Just as you have ruled, O king, and protected your subjects—
तस्माद्गच्छ मया सार्धं पाताले पार्थिवोत्तम
Therefore, O best of kings, go with me to the netherworld.
नातः परं त्वया स्थेयं मर्त्यलोके कथंचन
From now on, you must not remain in the world of mortals in any way.
पुत्रं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य मंत्रिणां संनिवेद्य च ॥ ६.९५.
Install your son in the kingdom, informing the ministers as well.
तथाहं देव देव्या च प्रोक्तः संतुष्टया पुरा
In this way, I was once told by the goddess, who was pleased.
यदा त्वं त्यजसि प्राज्ञ मर्त्यलोकं सुदुस्त्यजम्
When you, O wise one, leave the world of mortals, which is so hard to abandon,
तानि चार्पय मे भूयो येनानृण्यं व्रजाम्यहम्
Then give me again those things by which I may become free of obligation.
एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन भगवांस्त्रिपुरांतकः
Thus addressed, then, by him, the blessed destroyer of Tripura,
अब्रवीच्च सुतस्तत्र स्वयं राजा भविष्यति
He also said: 'Your son himself will become king there.'
त्वं चागच्छ मया सार्धमद्यैव मम मंदिरे
And you, come with me today itself to my abode.
अद्य माघचतुर्दश्यां शुक्लायामपरोऽपि यः
On this very day, the fourteenth of the bright half of Māgha, whoever else—
करिष्यति प्रवेशेन प्राणत्यागं नृपोत्तम
O best of kings, whoever gives up his life by entering (the water),
स्नानं वा पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ यः करिष्यति मानवः
Or, O foremost of kings, any man who bathes (there),
एवमुक्त्वा तमादाय नृपं भार्यासमन्वितम् प्रविवेश जले तस्मिन्देवीकुण्डसमुद्भवे ॥ ६.९५.
Having thus spoken, he took the king, along with his wife, and entered that water, born from the pool of the goddess.
ततश्च मंदिरं नीतः स्वकीयं द्विजसत्तमाः ९१ अद्यापि तिष्ठते तत्र जरामरणवर्जितः
Then he was led to his own abode, O best of twice-born; even today he remains there, free from old age and death.
एवं तत्र समुद्भूता सा देवी परमेश्वरी
Thus, there arose that goddess, the supreme Lady.
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्येऽजापालेश्वरीमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पञ्चनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-fifth chapter, called 'The Description of the Greatness of Ajāpāleśvarī,' in the section on the greatness of Śrī Hāṭakeśvara-kshetra, in the sixth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
तत्पुत्रश्चाभवद्राजा मंत्रिभिस्तु पुरस्कृतः
And his son became king, being installed by the ministers.
यो नित्यमगमत्स्वर्गे वासवं रमते सदा
He always goes to heaven and delights with Indra.
गृहे यस्य स्वयं विष्णुर्भूत्वा चैव चतुर्विधः
In whose house Vishnu himself appears in fourfold form,
तेनागत्यात्र सत्क्षेत्रे तोषितो मधुसूदनः
By whose arrival at this sacred field, Madhusudana is pleased,
तस्यापि विश्रुता वापी स्वयं तेन विनिर्मिता
His renowned pond was constructed by him personally,
तस्यां यः कुरुते श्राद्धं संप्राप्ते पञ्चमीदिने
Whoever performs the śrāddha there on the fifth day,
भिंदानस्तोषितस्तेन कथं नारायणो वद
How could Narayana not be pleased by such an offering? Tell me.
सूत उवाच तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे स्वधर्मेण वसुन्धराम्
Sūta said: While he, learned in dharma, governed the earth by his own duty,
बहुक्षीरप्रदा गावः सस्यानि गुणवंति च
The cows yielded abundant milk, and the crops were excellent,
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दैवज्ञैस्तस्य भूपतेः ६.९६.
Then, at some time, astrologers foretold to that king,