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.
पीड्यमाना यदा विप्राः केनापि च भवंति हि
Whenever the Brahmins are afflicted by anyone,
यामे तृतीये सामानि तारस्वरमधीत्य च 1.2.53.
In the third watch, having recited the Sāma hymns in the Tāra tone,
सप्ताहाद्वर्षमध्याद्वा त्रिवर्षाद्भस्मतां व्रजेत्
Within seven days, or in the middle of the year, or after three years, he becomes ashes.
सत्येन तेन नो वैरी भस्मीभवतु ह क्षणात्
By that truth, let our enemy become ashes in an instant.
शालां त्रिपुरुषां तत्र यः पश्यति दिनेदिने
Whoever sees the hall of the three gods there day by day,
इति त्रिपुरुषशालामाहात्म्यम् नारद उवाच अथान्यत्संप्रवक्ष्यामि मदीयसरसो महत्
Thus is the greatness of the hall of the three gods. Narada said: Now I shall speak of another, the greatness of my own lake.
माहात्म्यमतुलं पार्थ देवानामपि दुर्लभम्
O Partha, the greatness here is incomparable, and even the gods find it difficult to attain.
मृत्तिका ताम्रपात्रेण त्यक्ता बाह्ये ततः स्वयम्
The clay, placed in a copper vessel, was then set aside outside by itself.
तत्तत्र सरसि क्षिप्तं तेन संपूरितं सरः
That clay was thrown into the lake, and by it the lake was filled.
श्राद्धं यः कुरुते तत्र स्नात्वा दानं विशेषतः
Whoever performs a śrāddha there, having bathed, and especially gives gifts,