समाप्ते च क्रतौ भूयो गंतारः स्वं निकेतनम् 7.3.37.
When the sacrifice is completed, you will return again to your own abode.
नागह्रदं तु तत्तीर्थमेतद्भावि धरातले
The Nāga lake, this very sacred place, will manifest on earth.
करिष्यति नरः स्नानं तस्य नाहिकृतं भयम्
Whoever bathes there shall have no fear of calamity.
ये भोगा भूतले ख्याता ये दिव्या ये च मानुषाः
All the pleasures known on earth, divine or human,
देव्याः शरणमापन्नास्तस्थुस्तत्र नगोत्तमे
Those who sought refuge with the goddess remained there on the excellent mountain.
ततः कालेन महता सत्रे पारिक्षितस्य च
Then, after a long time, during the sacrifice of Parikṣit,
देव्या चैवाभ्यनुज्ञाताः प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः
Having been granted permission by the goddess, they bowed repeatedly.
अद्यापि कृष्णपंचम्यां श्रावणे मासि पार्थिव
Even today, on the fifth day of Krishna in the month of Śrāvaṇa, O king,
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्राद्धं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, with utmost effort, one should perform the śrāddha there.
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे नागोद्भवतीर्थमाहात्म्य वर्णनंनाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-seventh chapter entitled 'The Glory of Nāgodbhava Tīrtha,' in the third section of Arbuda, in the seventh Prabhāsa section, of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यत्र सा जाह्नवी गुप्ता तिष्ठते भूपसत्तम
Where the hidden Jahnavi abides, O best of kings,
तस्यां स्नातो नरः सम्यक्सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्
Whoever bathes there properly attains the merit of all sacred places.
कस्मिन्काले समायाता परं कौतूहलं हि मे
At what time did she arrive? I am truly most curious.
अर्बुदेऽस्मिन्सदा स्थेयमचलेन त्वया विभो
On this Arbuda, you must always remain steadfast, O mighty one.
तत्र संस्थापिते लिंगे स्वयं देवेन शंभुना
There, the liṅga was established by the god Śaṃbhu himself.
अतिकोपसमायुक्तैः कस्मिंश्चित्कारणांतरे
Due to some other cause, accompanied by intense anger,
अचले तु मयात्रैव स्थातव्यं नात्र संशयः
Indeed, I must remain here on the mountain; there is no doubt about this.
अचलेश्वररूपस्य गंगा चित्ते व्यजायत
In the form of the Lord of the Mountain, Ganga arose in the mind.
अथ जानाति नो गौरी मानिनी परमेश्वरी
Then Gauri, proud and supreme, does not know.
उपायं सुमहद्ध्यात्वा जाह्नवीसंगसंभवम् 7.3.38.
Having considered a great means for the union with Jahnavi,
अभिप्रायोऽस्ति मे कश्चिज्जलाश्रयव्रतोद्भवः
I have a certain intention, arising from a vow related to water.
तत्राहं जलमध्यस्थः स्थास्यामि जलतत्परः
There, I will remain within the water, devoted to the water.
स्वच्छोदकसमाकीर्णं सुतीर्थं सुसुखावहम्
Filled with clear water, it is a fine sacred place, bringing great happiness.
व्रतव्याजेन देवेशो विवेश तदनन्तरम्
Under the pretext of a vow, the Lord of gods entered there immediately.
सा ध्याता तत्क्षणात्तत्र शिवेन सह संगता
She, having meditated, was instantly united there with Shiva.
व्रतव्याजेन राजेन्द्र न तु गौरी व्यजानत कैवल्यज्ञानसंपन्नस्तत्रायातः परिभ्रमन्
By the pretext of a vow, O king, Gauri did not recognize him; endowed with the knowledge of liberation, he arrived there, wandering about.
स तु दृष्ट्वा महादेवं जलस्थं व्रतधारिणम्
He, seeing Mahadeva standing in the water, observing a vow—
वक्त्रनेत्रविकारोऽयं किमस्य व्रतधारिणः
What is this change in the face and eyes of this ascetic?
अथाऽपश्यद्ध्यानदृष्ट्या गंगासक्तं महेश्वरम्
Then, through the vision of meditation, he saw Maheshvara absorbed in the Ganga.
तदा स कथयामास सर्वं हरविचेष्टितम् ॥ 7.3.38.
Then he narrated everything concerning Hara’s actions.