तं दृष्ट्वा जायते मर्त्यो मेधावी मतिमाञ्छुचिः
Upon seeing him, a mortal becomes intelligent, wise, and pure.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे व्यासतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षट्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-sixth chapter named 'The Description of the Glory of Vyasa Tirtha' in the third Arbudakhanda of the seventh Prabhasa section of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
यत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं गौतमेन महात्मना
Where formerly austerity was practiced by Gautama, the great-souled,
पुराऽऽसीद्गौतमो नाम मुनिः परमधार्मिकः
Long ago, there was a sage named Gautama, supremely righteous.
भक्त्याऽऽराधयमानस्य निर्भिद्य धरणीतलम्
As he worshipped with devotion, the earth split open.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी वरं वरय भद्रं ते यत्ते मनसि वर्तते
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke: 'Choose a boon, auspicious one, whatever is in your mind.'
सदा कार्यं हि सान्निध्यं यदि तुष्टो मम प्रभो
'If you, O Lord, are pleased, may your presence always be here.'
यस्त्वां पश्यति सद्भक्त्या ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छतु
Whoever sees you with true devotion shall go to the world of Brahma.
कृष्णायां ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ स यास्यति परां गतिम्
O best of Brahmins, on the new moon, he shall attain the highest state.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो वाणी विरराम महीपते तत्र स्नातो नरः सद्यः कुलं तारयतेऽखिलम्
Having spoken thus, the voice ceased, O King; one who bathes there at once delivers his entire lineage.
यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं विशेषादिन्दुसंक्षये
Whoever performs śrāddha there, especially at the waning of the moon,
तत्र दानं प्रशंसंति तिलानां मुनिपुंगवाः 7.3.47.
The foremost sages praise the gift of sesame seeds given there.
अर्बुदे गौतमी यात्रा सिंहस्थे च बृहस्पतौ
At Arbuda, the journey to the Gautamī, and when Jupiter is in Leo,
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि भागीरथ्यवगाहने
Bathing in the Bhāgīrathī there is equal to six thousand years.
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशातिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे गौतमाश्रमतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the collection of eighty-one thousand chapters, in the seventh Prabhāsa section, third Arbuda section, is the forty-seventh chapter named 'The Greatness of the Gautama Āśrama Tīrtha.'
यत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यक्कुलं तारयतेऽखिलम्
Wherever a man bathes properly, he delivers his entire lineage.
दश पूर्वान्भविष्यांश्च तथात्मानं नृपोत्तम
O best of kings, ten ancestors, both past and future, as well as himself.
आसीदप्रस्तुतो नाम राजा पूर्वं स पापकृत्
There was once a king named Aprastuta, who was a wrongdoer.
तस्मिञ्छासति लोकानां नासीत्सौख्यं कदाचन
While he ruled, there was never happiness among the people.
न्यायतोऽन्यायतो वापि करोति धनसंग्रहम्
He amassed wealth by just or unjust means.
ततो वार्धक्यमापन्नस्तथापि न शमं गतः तं प्रसुप्तं समासाद्य नारकेयैः सुदुःखितैः
Then, having grown old, still he did not find peace; as he slept, he was seized by the tormented beings of hell.
दानयज्ञतपःशीलाः स्वदारनिरतास्तथा
Those devoted to charity, sacrifice, austerity, and fidelity to their own wives,
स्वकर्मभिः कुलांगार दिवं प्राप्ता यथार्हतः तस्मादुद्धर नः सर्वान्कृत्वा किंचिच्छुभार्चनम्
By their own actions, the members of the lineage have attained heaven as deserved; therefore, lift us all up, having performed even a little auspicious worship.
कर्मभिस्तव पापात्मन्वयं नरकमाश्रिताः
By your actions, O sinful one, your lineage has taken refuge in hell.
एवमुक्त्वा च ते सर्वे पितरस्तु सुदुःखिताः 7.3.48.
Having spoken thus, all those ancestors were greatly distressed.
ततो दुःखमनुप्राप्तः पितृवाक्यानि संस्मरन्
Then, afflicted by sorrow, he recalled the words of his ancestors.
कथं ते कुशलं राज्ये शरीरे वा पुरेऽथवा
How can you have well-being in your kingdom, body, or city?
राजोवाच मया दृष्टोऽद्य स्वप्नांते पिता ह्यथ पितामहः
The king spoke: Today, at the end of a dream, I saw my father and grandfather.
उपालब्धोऽस्मि तैः सर्वैस्तव कर्मभिरीदृशैः
I was reproached by all of them because of your actions of this kind.
अथान्ये दश यास्यन्ति भविष्याश्च भवानपि
Then, ten others will depart, and you too will do so in the future.