मापेन मापितान्कृत्वा मसूरांस्तत्र कुट्टयेत्
Having measured out the lentils, one should grind them there.
ये पश्यंति नरा भक्त्या शीतलां दुरितापहाम्
Those people who devotedly behold Śītalā, who removes suffering—
न च रोगभयं तेषां ग्रहपीडा तथैव च
They have no fear of disease, nor affliction from planets.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये शीतला माहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twelfth chapter, called 'The Description of the Glory of Śītalā,' in the Avanti section, concerning the sanctity of the Avanti region, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Mahāpurāṇa of Śrī Skanda.
श्राद्धं तत्रैव कुर्वीत पितॄनुद्दिश्य भक्तितः
One should perform the śrāddha rite there itself, with devotion, for the sake of the ancestors.
पितॄंश्च स नरो व्यास तारयेदात्मना सह
O Vyāsa, that man also uplifts his ancestors along with himself.
भैरवस्याग्रतो देवी पूर्वे तिष्ठति चांबिका
In front of Bhairava stands the goddess, Ambikā, in the east.
महानवम्यां पुरुषः कृत्वा बस्तमयं बलिम् भक्त्या निवेद्य देव्यै तु सर्वासिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्
On the great Navamī, a person, having made an offering of a vessel, and having devotedly presented it to the goddess, attains all accomplishments.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या पूजां कृत्वा महेश्वरे
There, after bathing, a man, with devotion, performs worship to Maheśvara.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये स्वर्गद्वारमाहात्म्य वर्णनंनाम त्रयोदशोध्यायः
Thus ends the thirteenth chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of the Gate to Heaven,' in the Avanti Section of the fifth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पुत्रवाञ्जायते नरः
By merely seeing him, a man becomes endowed with sons.
समुद्राः संति चत्वारः क्षारक्षीरदधीक्षवः
There are four oceans: saline, milky, curd, and sweet.
कथय त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुद्युम्नेन प्रतिष्ठिताः
Tell me, O best of sages, which were established by Sudyumna.
लक्षयोजनपर्यंतं जंबुद्वीपं सुशोभनम्
Jambudvīpa, beautiful, extends up to a hundred thousand yojanas.
शाकद्वीपे द्विलक्षे तु क्षीराब्धिः संप्रतिष्ठितः शाल्मले त्विक्षुजलधिर्ह्यष्टलक्षः प्रतिष्ठितः
On Śākadvīpa, the milk ocean is established at two hundred thousand; on Śālmalī, the sugarcane ocean is established at eight hundred thousand.
चत्वारस्ते समाख्याताः समुद्रा भूमिमंडले
These four oceans have been described on the earth's sphere.
तस्य पत्नी वरारोहा नाम्ना ख्याता सुदर्शना
His wife, renowned by name, is Sudarśanā, of excellent form.
मुनिं दाल्भ्यं च सा दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ सुतकाम्यया
She, seeing the sage Dālbhya, questioned him with the desire for a son.
सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णः पुत्रो लभ्यो मया कथम्
How may I obtain a son, complete in all characteristics?
स्वयंभुवेन देवेन ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा ।। 5.1.14.
By the self-born god, Brahmā, the creator of worlds.
तेषु राज्ञा कृते स्नाने तव पुत्रो भविष्यति
When the kings have bathed in those, your son will be born.
दाल्भ्यस्यैव तु वाक्येन विचित्राख्यानकेन च
By the words of Dālbhya himself and by the wondrous narrative.
स गत्वा तोषयामास शंकरं गंधमादने
He went and pleased Śaṃkara in Gandhamādana.
अवंतीं गच्छ राजेद्र पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि शोभनम्
Go to Avanti, O king; you will obtain a splendid son.
मेरुरूपे स्थले राजन्समीपे शंकरस्य च अभ्यर्थितास्त्वया तत्र स्थास्यंति कलया सदा
On the land resembling Meru, near Śaṃkara, O king, those who are requested by you will always remain there with skill.
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवो जगामादर्शनं विभुः
Having spoken thus, the great god departed from sight.
आगतस्तु कुशस्थल्यां समुद्रांश्च ददर्श ह
Arriving at Kuśasthalī, he beheld the oceans.
स वव्रे मनसा पुत्रं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् तावदत्रैव स्थातव्यं राजस्थलसमीपतः
He mentally desired a son endowed with all marks; one must remain here, near the royal grounds, for that long.
भविष्यति च ते पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः
Your son will indeed possess all auspicious marks.
स्थले चात्र शुभे राजन्स्थास्यामः कलया सह
On this auspicious land, O king, we shall remain together with skill.