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.
एवमुक्तः प्रबुद्धोऽहं पितृभिर्वरवर्णिनि
Thus addressed, I was awakened by the ancestors, O fair one.
इन्दुमत्युवाच सत्यमेतन्महाराज यदुक्तोऽसि पितामहैः
Indumati spoke: This is true, O great king, what you have been told by your grandfathers.
यथा सुपुत्रमासाद्य तरंति पितरो नृप
Just as, upon obtaining a good son, the ancestors cross over, O king.
स त्वमाहूय विप्रेंद्रान्धर्मशास्त्रविचक्षणान्
Therefore, summon the foremost Brahmins, skilled in the scriptures of dharma.
आनयामास राजाऽसौ ततो विप्राननेकशः उवाच विनयोपेतो भार्यया सहितो हितान्॥ 7.3.48.
The king then brought many Brahmins; endowed with humility, he spoke to them, together with his wife, seeking their welfare.
स्वर्गं यांति सुपुत्रेण तारिताः प्रोच्यतां स्फुटम्
Those who are rescued by a good son attain heaven; let this be declared clearly.
निरयस्था दिवं यांति यद्यपि स्युः सुपापिनः
Those dwelling in hell attain heaven, even if they are very sinful.
यत्किंचिदत्र कर्त्तव्यं प्रोच्यतामखिलं हि तत्
Whatever needs to be done here, let it all be declared.
तथोक्तास्ते नृपेंद्रेण ब्राह्मणाः सत्यवादिनः
Thus addressed by the king, the truthful Brahmins spoke.
दीक्षा ग्राह्या नृपश्रेष्ठ पुरश्चरणमादितः
Initiation must be undertaken, O best of kings, beginning with the preliminary rites.