पुरा चेंद्रसमायोगे परं दुःखमुपागता
Long ago, during her union with Indra, she suffered great distress.
ततो दुःखार्तः स मुनिः कोटितीर्थेऽकरोत्तपः
Then, afflicted by sorrow, that sage performed austerities at Koṭitīrtha.
ततः साध्वी परं हृष्टा अत्र क्षेत्रे सरोवरम्
After that, the virtuous woman became exceedingly joyful at this sacred site, at the lake.
अहल्यासरसि स्नानं पिंडदानं समाचरेत् 1.2.52.
One should bathe in the Ahalyā Lake here and perform the offering of rice-balls.
कोटितीर्थे नरश्रेष्ठ अनेके मुनयोऽमलाः
At Koṭitīrtha, O best of men, many pure sages have gathered.
राजभिर्बहुभिः पूर्वं तपो दानं तथाध्वराः
Formerly, many kings performed austerities, gave gifts, and conducted sacrifices here.
अस्य तीरे द्विजं चैकं मृष्टान्नैर्यश्च तर्पयेत्
On its bank, one should satisfy a single Brāhmaṇa with well-cooked food.
अस्य तीरे नरः पार्थ रत्नानि विविधानि च
On its bank, O Pārtha, a man should offer various kinds of jewels.
श्रद्धया परया पार्थ द्विजेभ्यः संप्रयच्छति कोटितीर्थे प्रतिश्रुत्य द्विजेभ्यो न प्रयच्छति
With supreme faith, O Pārtha, he gives to the Brāhmaṇas; but if, after vowing at Koṭitīrtha, he does not give to the Brāhmaṇas—
नरके पातयित्वा च कुलमेकोत्तरं शतम्
He causes his lineage to fall into hell for one hundred generations.
माघमासे तु संप्राप्ते प्रातःकाले तथाऽमले
When the pure morning of the month of Māgha arrives,
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वयज्ञेषु यत्फलम्
Whatever merit is gained at all holy places, whatever fruit is obtained from all sacrifices,
तत्पुण्यं लभते मर्त्यो नात्र कार्या विचारणा
That merit is obtained by a mortal here—there should be no doubt about this.
पितरस्तस्य तुष्यंति गयाश्राद्धशतैर्न तु 1.2.52.
His ancestors are satisfied here in a way not achieved by hundreds of ancestral rites at Gayā.
तदक्षयफलं सर्वं ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा
All these imperishable results are just as the word of Brahmā declares.
कन्यां ब्राह्मेण विधिना दत्त्वा कोटिगुणं फलम्
By giving a maiden according to Brāhma marriage rites, one obtains a reward a crore times greater.
कोटि तीर्थे त्यजेत्प्राणान्हृदि कृत्वा तु माधवम्
If one gives up his life at Koṭitīrtha, having fixed Mādhava in his heart,
कोटितीर्थे तीर्थवरे देहत्यागं करोति यः
Whoever abandons the body at Koṭitīrtha, the foremost of holy places—
अस्य तीरे देहदाहो यस्य कस्य प्रजायते
On this bank, the cremation of anyone's body takes place.
तत्फलं गदितुं पार्थ वागीशोऽपि न वै क्षमः
O Partha, even the lord of speech is not able to describe its result.
दिनेदिने फलं तस्य कापिलं गोसहस्रकम्
Day by day, its reward is a thousand Kapila cows.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां प्रथमे माहेश्वरखण्डे कौमारिकाखण्डे कोटितीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्विपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-second chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Koṭitīrtha,' in the Kaumārikā section of the first Māheśvara division of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
संस्थापिते पुरा स्थाने प्रोक्तोहं द्विजपुंगवैः
Long ago, when the place was established, I was addressed by the foremost twice-born.
स्थानस्य रक्षणार्थाय उपायं कुरु सुव्रत
For the protection of the place, devise a means, O virtuous one.
आराधिता मया पश्चाद्ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
Afterwards, I worshipped Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara.
समागम्याथ मां प्रोचुर्नारद व्रियतां वरः
Then, having assembled, they said to me, 'O Narada, choose a boon.'
अयमेव वरो मह्यं देयो देवैः सुतोषितैः
This alone is the boon that should be granted to me by the pleased gods.
एवमस्त्विति देवेशैः प्रतिज्ञातं तदा मुने
So be it—thus was it promised by the lords of the gods at that time, O sage.
एवमुक्त्वा कला मुक्ता देवैस्त्रिपुरुषैः स्वयम्
Having spoken thus, the portion was released by the three gods themselves.
ततो मया द्विजैः सार्धं शालाग्रे स्थानरक्षणम्
Then, together with the twice-born, I protected the place at the front of the hall.