यश्चैतत्पठते नित्यं शृणुयाद्यो विशेषतः
Whoever recites this daily, or especially listens to it,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये दशरथशनैश्चरसंवादवर्णनंनाम षण्णवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-sixth chapter, called 'The Description of the Dialogue between Daśaratha and Saturn,' in the section on the greatness of the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the sixth Nāgara Khaṇḍa of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
भिनत्ति वचनात्तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च
By the command of that king, Daśaratha, he withdrew.
तद्वृत्तांतं समाकर्ण्य तस्य शक्रः प्रहर्षितः
Hearing that account, Indra was filled with delight.
अत्यद्भुततरं कर्म त्वयैतत्पृथिवीपते
O lord of the earth, this deed of yours is truly most astonishing.
अत एव हि संतुष्टिः सञ्जाताद्य तवोपरि
Therefore, satisfaction has arisen in me toward you today.
शाश्वती सर्वकृत्येषु परमां लोकसंस्थिताम्
May you possess supreme, eternal status among all beings in every action.
एवं भवतु राजेंद्र त्वया सह सदा मम
So let it be, O king of kings; may you always be with me.
त्वया सदैव मे पार्श्वे सभायां देवसंनिधौ
May you ever be at my side, in the assembly, in the presence of the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षो जगाम त्रिदिवालयम्
Having spoken thus, the thousand-eyed one went to his heavenly abode.
रक्षयित्वा जगत्सर्वं शनैश्चर कृताद्भयात्
Having protected the whole world from the fear caused by Saturn,
ततः प्रभृति नित्यं स सन्ध्याकाल उपस्थिते ६.९७.
From that time on, whenever evening approached,
गीतं दृष्ट्वा च नृत्यं च तानादिविहितं शुभम्
He would witness the auspicious singing and dancing, performed according to proper measures,
स्वयं च कीर्तयित्वाथ प्रयाति निजमंदिरम्
And then, having himself sung, he would depart to his own residence.
विमानवरमारुह्य हंसबर्हिणनादितम्
Ascending the excellent aerial car, resounding with the cries of swans and peacocks,
यदायदा स निर्याति शक्रस्थानान्निजालयम्
Whenever he departs from Indra's abode to his own house,
शक्रादेशात्तदा वेत्ति न स भूपः कथंचन कथयामास तत्सर्वमभ्युक्षणसमुद्भवम्
At that time, by Indra's command, the king did not know anything; he narrated everything arising from the sprinkling ritual.
वृत्तांतं तस्य राजर्षेस्तस्यैव गृहमागतः
He came to the house of that royal sage and recounted the events.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदेनोक्तं श्रद्धेयमपि भूपतिः
Having heard what was spoken by Narada, the king, though it was credible, remained unconvinced.
तथापि कौतुकाविष्टो गत्वा शक्रनिवेशनम्
Yet, seized by curiosity, he went to Indra's residence.
अलक्ष्यं वीक्षयामास स्वासनं दूरमास्थितः
Unnoticed, he observed his own seat from a distance.
ततः शक्रसमादेशादुत्थाय सुरकिंकरः ६.९७.
Then, at Indra's command, a servant of the gods arose.
तद्दृष्ट्वा कोपसंपन्नः स राजाऽभ्येत्य वासवम्
Seeing this, the king, filled with anger, approached Vāsava.
किं मया निहता विप्राः किं वा विप्रसमुद्भवम्
Have I slain Brahmins, or is it something arising from Brahmins?
किं वा नष्टोऽस्मि संग्रामे दृष्ट्वा शत्रून्समागतान्
Or have I perished in battle, seeing the assembled enemies?
मम राज्येऽथवा शक्र दुर्बलो बलवत्तरैः
Or, Indra, in my kingdom, am I weak among those who are stronger?
किं वा राज्ये मदीये च जायते योनिविप्लवः
Or is there some disruption of lineage occurring in my realm?
किं वा दुर्जनवाक्येन दूषितो दोषवर्जितः
Or have I been defamed by the words of wicked people, though I am free of fault?
किं वा चौरोऽथ पापो वा गृहीतो दोषवान्स्वयम्
Or am I a thief or sinner, caught with my own faults?
किंस्विन्मया परित्यक्तः कोऽप्यत्र शरणागतः
Or have I abandoned someone here who sought refuge?