Adhyaya 345
This adhyāya is a brief site-glory (māhātmya) within the sacred field of Prabhāsa. It describes the liṅga called Hāṭakeśvara and, to its eastern side, the shrine known as Naleśvara. Īśvara speaks to Devī, giving directional guidance and a specific distance measure so the shrine may be located within the kṣetra. The text states that Naleśvara was established by King Nala together with Damayantī, grounding the shrine’s authority in the exemplary royal pair’s recognition of the kṣetra’s excellence. In the phalaśruti it is declared that one who beholds and worships the liṅga according to proper rite is freed from the afflictions of the Kali age (“kali” afflictions) and is also promised victory in dicing/gambling (dyūta), a distinctive worldly boon linked to devotion at this place.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि लिंगं वै हाटकेश्वरम् । जरद्गवात्पूर्वभागे धनुषां षष्टिभिस्त्रिभिः
Īśvara said: “Then, O Great Goddess, one should go to the liṅga known as Hāṭakeśvara, situated to the east of Jaradgava at a distance of sixty-three dhanuṣ-lengths.”
Verse 2
नाम्ना नलेश्वरं देवि स्थापितं तु नलेन वै । दमयन्तीयुतेनैव ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रं तदुत्तमम्
O Goddess, it is called Naleśvara; indeed King Nala himself established it, together with Damayantī, after recognizing that kṣetra as supremely holy.
Verse 3
तं दृष्ट्वा मानवो देवि पूजयित्वा विधानतः कलिभिर्मुच्यते जंतुर्द्यूते च विजयी भवेत्
O Goddess, one who beholds it and worships it according to proper rite is freed from the afflictions of Kali; and even in gambling he becomes victorious.
Verse 345
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये नलेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पञ्चचत्वारिंशदुत्तरत्रिशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends, in the revered Skanda Mahāpurāṇa—within the Saṃhitā of eighty-one thousand verses—the three hundred and forty-fifth chapter, entitled “The Description of the Greatness of Naleśvara,” in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa, within the Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya.