किं तस्य जीवितेनार्थः किं धनैः किं जपैर्नृप
What is the use of life, of wealth, or of recitations, O King—
अपि कीटपतंगा ये पशवः पक्षिणो मृगाः
—even the insects, moths, animals, birds, and deer—
तस्मिन्मृता महाराज निष्कामाः कामतोऽपि वा
—who die there, O King, whether without desire or with desire—
यश्चैतच्छुणुयान्नित्यं पुराणं श्रद्धयान्वितः
And whoever listens daily to this Purāṇa with faith—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन यात्रां तत्र समाचरेत्
—therefore, with all effort, one should undertake a pilgrimage there.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडेऽर्बुदखण्डमाहात्म्यफलश्रुतिवर्णनंनाम त्रिषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-third chapter, entitled 'The Fruits of Hearing the Greatness of Arbuda,' in the third section, Arbuda-khaṇḍa, of the seventh Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
श्रीजगदंबायै नमः अथावन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं प्रारभ्यते व्यास उवाच स्रष्टारोऽपि प्रजानां प्रबलभवभयाद्यं नमस्यंति देवा यो ह्यव्यक्ते प्रविष्टः प्रविहितमनसां ध्यानयुक्तात्मनां च
Salutation to Śrī Jagadambā. Now, in the Avanti-khaṇḍa, the greatness of the Avanti region is begun. Vyāsa said: Even the creators of beings, out of great fear of worldly existence, bow to that Lord who has entered the unmanifest, and who is realized by those whose minds are established in meditation.
कथ्यंतां तानि यत्नेन श्रद्धा येषु प्रजायते
Let those deeds be narrated with effort, in which faith arises.
ईश्वर उवाच अस्ति लोकेषु विख्याता गंगा त्रिपथगा नदी
The Lord said: In the worlds, the river Ganga, famed as the threefold path, exists.
तपनस्य सुता देवी यमुना लोकपावनी
The goddess Yamuna, daughter of the sun, is renowned for purifying the worlds.
चन्द्रभागा वितस्ता च नर्मदाऽमरकण्टके
The rivers Chandrabhaga, Vitasta, and Narmada at Amarakantaka are also present.
केदारं पुष्करं चैव तथा कायावरोहणम्
Kedara, Pushkara, and likewise Kayavarohana are included.
यत्रास्ते श्रीमहाकालः पापेन्धनहुताशनः
There resides Shri Mahakala, the fire that consumes sin.
भुक्तिदं मुक्तिदं क्षेत्रं कलिक ल्मषनाशनम्
That sacred place grants enjoyment and liberation, and destroys the stains of Kali.
यानि तीर्थानि विद्यन्ते यानि लिंगानि संति वै
Whatever sacred sites exist, whatever lingas are found,
तान्यहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे ।। 5.1.1.
I wish to hear about them; indeed, my curiosity is very great.
क्षेत्रमाद्यं महादेवि सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
The foremost field, O great goddess, destroys all sins.
श्रीमेरोः संनिधाने च शिखरं रत्नचिह्नितम्
At the abode of Mount Meru, there is a peak adorned with jewels.
विचित्रधातुभिश्चित्रं स्वच्छस्फटिकवेदिकम्
It is wondrously decorated with various minerals and has a pure crystal altar.
मृगनागेन्द्रसंयुक्तं गजयूथसमाकुलम्
It is filled with herds of deer and lions, and crowded with groups of elephants.
वाताहततरुव्रातप्रसूनास्थानचित्रितम्
Its flower-strewn grounds are adorned by clusters of trees shaken by the wind.
लतागृहरतिस्थानं सिद्धविद्याधराश्रयम्
There are vine-covered dwellings, places for pleasure, and refuges for accomplished sages and Vidyadharas.
तस्मिन्वने महारम्ये शोभिताशेष भूमिकम्
In that exceedingly delightful forest, the entire land shines.
तत्र दिव्यांगनागीतमधुरध्वनिनादिता
There, the sweet sound of celestial maidens' songs resounds.
बहुवाद्यसमुन्नद्धमहास्वननिनादिता
It is filled with the mighty reverberation of many musical instruments.
विन्यस्ता कोटिभिः स्तंभैर्निर्मलादर्शशोभिता 5.1.1.
It is adorned with millions of pillars, shining like spotless mirrors.
अप्सरोनृत्यविन्यासविलासोल्लासशोभिता
Adorned with the exuberant grace of the Apsaras as they display their skill in dance.
ऋषिसंघसमाकीर्णा मुनिवृन्दनिषेविता
Filled with assemblies of sages, attended by groups of ascetics.
तस्यां निविष्टं वागीशं शंकराराधने रतम्
There, the Lord of Speech was established, devoted to the worship of Shankara.
मुनिमध्यात्समुत्थाय कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः
From among the sages, the sage Krishna Dvaipayana arose.