पिता मे निहतो यस्मात्क्षत्रियैस्तापसो द्विजः
Because my father was killed by kṣatriyas, though he was an ascetic and a twice-born,
क्षत्त्रहीनामहं पृथ्वीं प्रदास्ये सलिलं पितुः
I will offer water to my father, having made the earth devoid of kṣatriyas.
तस्मात्सर्वं प्रयत्नेन श्राद्धं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, one should diligently perform śrāddha there in every way.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडे रामतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकोनपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, called 'The Glory of Rāmatīrtha,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
तीर्थानां यत्र संजाता कोटिः पार्थिव हेलया
There, by the negligence of a king, a crore of sacred fords came into being.
यदा स्यात्कलिकालस्तु रौद्रो राजन्महीतले
But when the terrible age of Kali arises on earth, O King,
तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्धकोटिश्च तीर्थानां भूमिवासिनाम्
There are thirty million and a half million sacred places inhabited by beings on earth.
पुष्करे च तथा कोटिः कुरुक्षेत्रे च पार्थिव राजन्नेतानि रक्षंति सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः
And likewise, there is a crore in Puṣkara, and in Kurukṣetra as well, O king; all the gods together with Indra protect these.
यदा यदा भयार्त्तानि म्लेच्छस्पर्शात्समंततः
Whenever there is distress from fear, due to the touch of mlecchas all around—
कोटितीर्थानि त्रीण्येव तत्र जातानि भूतले
Then, three crore tīrthas arise there on the earth.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, with every effort, one should perform bathing there.
तत्र स्नानादिकं सर्वं जपहोमादिकं च यत्
There, all acts such as bathing, as well as recitation and offering oblations, whatever they may be—
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे कोटितीर्थप्रभाववर्णनंनाम पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fiftieth chapter, called 'The Description of the Power of Koṭitīrtha,' in the third Arbudakhaṇḍa of the seventh Prabhāsakhaṇḍa, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
तीर्थं पापहरं नृणां निशानाथेन निर्मितम्
A tīrtha that removes the sins of people was created by the lord of the night.
प्रतिज्ञातं यदा राजन्ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः
It was promised, O king, at the time of the eclipse of the moon and the sun.
तदा भयान्वितश्चन्द्रो मत्वा दैत्यं दुरासदम्
Then, the moon, filled with fear, considering the demon to be formidable—
तत्र भित्त्वा गिरेः शृंगे कृत्वा विवरमुत्तमम्
There, piercing the peak of the mountain, he made an excellent opening.
ततः कालेन महता तुष्टस्तस्य महेश्वरः
Then, after a long time, Maheśvara was pleased with him.
बलवानेष दुर्धर्षः प्रकृत्या सिंहिकासुतः
This son of Siṃhikā is powerful and naturally difficult to subdue.
सांप्रतं भक्षितं तेन पीयूषं सुरसत्तम
Now, O best of the gods, nectar has been consumed by him.
पीयमानेऽमृते देव देवैः पूर्वं पराजितैः
While the nectar was being drunk, O god, by the gods who had previously been defeated—
अपिबच्चामृतं राहुस्तेनास्य मृत्युवर्जितम्
Rāhu drank the nectar, and thus he became free from death.
ततो देवैः कृतं साम ग्रहमध्ये प्रतिष्ठितः 7.3.51.
Then, by the gods, a reconciliation was made, and he was established in the midst of the grahas.
भयात्तस्य सुरश्रेष्ठ भित्त्वा शृंगं गिरेरिदम् तस्मादत्र प्रसादं मे कुरु कामनिषूदन
Out of fear of him, O best of the gods, piercing the peak of the mountain, this was done; therefore, here, grant me your favor, O destroyer of desire.
करिष्यति ग्रहं नूनं राहुः कोपपरायणः
Rahu, who is given to anger, will surely seize you.
ग्रहणे तव संप्राप्ते स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः
When the eclipse approaches you, the rites of bathing, giving, and the like should be performed.
ताभिस्तव न संतापः स्वल्पोऽप्येवं भविष्यति
By those acts, not even the slightest distress will come upon you.
ग्रहणे तव संजाते मम वाक्यादसंशयम् चन्द्रोद्भेदमिति ख्यातं तीर्थं लोके भविष्यति
When the eclipse occurs for you, by my word, without doubt, the place known as Candrodbheda will become a renowned holy site in the world.
ग्रहणे तव संप्राप्ते योऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यति
When the eclipse approaches you, whoever bathes here,
यो वा सोमदिने स्नानं दर्शनं तत्र चाचरेत्
Or whoever, on the day of Soma, bathes or beholds this place,