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.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडे त्रिपुष्करमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुष्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fourth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Tripuṣkara,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यत्र स्नातो नरो भक्त्या गणाधीशत्वमाप्नुयात्
Wherever a man bathes with devotion, he attains the lordship of the hosts.
पुरा हत्वांऽधकं दैत्यं सगणो वृषभध्वजः
Long ago, having slain the demon Andhaka, the Bull-bannered One, along with his attendants,
चतुर्द्दश्यां महाराज यस्तत्र कुरुते नरः
On the fourteenth day, O King, whoever performs (rites) there,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे रुद्रह्रदमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पञ्चपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Rudra Lake,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
गुहामध्ये गतं लिंगं सिद्धैः संपूजितं पुरा
Within the cave, the liṅga, worshipped by the perfected beings in ancient times, was established.
यंयं काममभिध्याय संपूजयति मानवः
Whatever desire a person contemplates while worshipping it,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखण्डे गुहेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम षट्पञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of Guheśvara,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhāsa book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यस्मिन्दृष्टे नरोभीष्टैर्न वियुज्येत कर्हिचित्
By seeing which, a man is never separated from his cherished desires.
तत्र पूर्वं शची राजन्प्रविष्टा दुःखसंयुता
There, formerly, O King, Śacī entered, afflicted with sorrow.