पुरा ब्रह्मादयो देवास्तत्र सर्वे समाहिताः
Long ago, Brahmā and the other gods all gathered there with concentrated minds.
अचलेश्वरयात्रायां सुभक्त्या भाविता नृप
During the pilgrimage to the Lord of the Mountain, O king, they were filled with deep devotion.
उपवासैश्च निर्विण्णा वयं सर्वे पितामह
By fasts we have become weary, O Grandfather, all of us.
तस्मात्सदुपदेशं त्वं किंचिद्दातुमिहार्हसि
Therefore, you ought to give us some good instruction here.
अयाचितोपचारैश्च जपहोमैः सुदुष्करैः
With unrequested offerings, and with recitations and sacrifices that are very difficult,
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तदा देवः कृपान्वितः
Hearing their words, the god was filled with compassion.
ततः स्वकं पदं त्यक्त्वा रम्ये पर्वतरोधसि
Then, leaving his own footstep on the lovely slope of the mountain,
स्पृशंतु ऋषयः सर्वे ततो यास्यथ सद्गतिम्
Let all the sages touch it, and then you shall attain the highest state.
विना स्नानेन दानेन व्रतहोमजपादिभिः 7.3.53.
Without bathing, giving, vows, sacrifices, recitation, and the like,
अस्मिन्पदे मया न्यस्ते यांति लोकाः सहस्रशः
When this footstep is established by me, thousands of worlds attain it.
एकैवात्र प्रकर्त्तव्या श्रद्धा वाऽव्यभिचारिणी
Here, only unwavering faith must be practiced.
पूजयिष्यति संप्राप्ते कार्तिके पूर्णिमादिने
Whoever worships at the time of the full moon in Kārtika,
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा तु मिष्टान्नेन स्वशक्तितः
Having fed brāhmaṇas with sweet food according to one's ability,
पूजयित्वा पदं तत्र ब्रह्मलोकं समागताः
And having worshipped that footstep there, they reach the world of Brahma.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पदं पूज्यं नरोत्तम
Therefore, O best of men, this footstep should be worshipped with all effort.
अन्यत्कौतूहलं राजन्महद्दृष्टं महाद्भुतम्
Another great and wondrous marvel, O king, has been seen.
आयामविस्तरेणाऽपि प्राप्ते कृतयुगे नृप
In the Kṛta age, O king, it appeared with full length and breadth.
ततस्त्रेतायुगे प्राप्ते रक्तवर्णं प्रदृश्यते
Then, in the Tretā age, it appeared with a red color.
द्वापरे कपिलं तच्च लघुमात्रं प्रदृश्यते 7.3.53.
In the Dvāpara age, it appeared tawny and of small size.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडे ब्रह्मपदोत्पत्तिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रिपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-third chapter, named 'The Greatness of the Origin of Brahma's Footstep,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
ब्रह्मणा तत्समानीतं पर्वतेऽर्बुदसंज्ञके
That was brought by Brahmā to the mountain called Arbuda.
वसिष्ठस्य पुरा सत्रे वर्त्तमाने नराधिप
Long ago, during the sacrifice of Vasiṣṭha, O lord of men,
प्रतिज्ञातं महाराज ब्रह्मणाऽव्यक्तजन्मना वंदयिष्यामि संप्राप्ते संध्याकाले समाहितः
It was promised by Brahmā, the unmanifest-born: 'I will worship at the time of twilight, with concentrated mind.'
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्रस्थितः पुष्करं प्रति
At that very time, he set out towards Puṣkara.
स विना न त्वया देव सिद्धिं यास्यति कर्हिचित्
Without you, O god, he will never attain success.
तस्मादानय चात्रैव पद्मयोने त्रिपुष्करम् ब्रह्मत्वं कुरु देवेश सत्रे चास्मिन्दयानिधे
Therefore, O Padmayoni, bring him here to Tripuṣkara; O lord of gods, grant him Brahmahood in this sacrifice, O ocean of compassion.
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन ब्रह्मा लोक पितामहः पुष्करत्रितयं चागात्सुपुण्ये सलिलाशये
Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, came to the three Puṣkaras, the most sacred reservoirs of water.
ततःप्रभृति संजातमर्बुदेऽस्मिंस्त्रिपुष्करम्
From that time onward, the three Puṣkaras arose here in Arbuda.
तत्र यः कार्तिके मासि पौर्णमास्यां समाहितः
There, whoever, with concentrated mind, on the full moon day in the month of Kārttika,
तस्य चोत्तरदिग्भागे सावित्रीकुण्डमुत्तमम् 7.3.54.
In the northern direction of that place is the excellent Savitrī pool.