नवमी अष्टमी चैव अमावास्याथ पूर्णिमा
On the ninth, eighth, new moon, or full moon—
ब्रह्मेंद्र रुद्रदेवांश्च सूर्याग्निब्रह्मदैवतान्
For Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the gods, the Sun, Fire, and the divine ancestors—
सरीसृपान्पितृगणान्यच्चान्यद्भुवि संस्थितम्
For reptiles, groups of ancestors, and whatever else abides on earth—
मासिमास्यसिते पक्षे पंचदश्यां द्विजोत्तम
On the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight of any month, O best of twice-born—
श्राद्धे पितृगणास्तृप्तिं प्रयांति पितरोऽर्जिताम्
At the śrāddha, the groups of ancestors attain the satisfaction earned by their descendants.
भक्त्या श्राद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं पित रस्तेन तर्पिताः
Śrāddha must be performed with devotion; by that, the fathers are gratified.
ये कुर्वंति च वै श्राद्धं पिंडान्ये निर्वपंति च 5.1.16.
Those who perform the śrāddha and offer the oblation balls—
इहैत्य वै पुण्यजलेषु सम्यक्स्नात्वा नरस्तांस्तु लभेत कामान्
Having come here and bathed properly in the sacred waters, a person attains all desired objects.
चित्तं च वित्तं च नृणां च शुद्धं शस्तश्च कालः कथितो विधिश्च
The mind and wealth of people become pure, and the time and procedure are said to be auspicious.
दशानामश्वमेधानां फलं प्राप्नोति मान वः
One attains the fruit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices, O best of men.
मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण राज्ञा चैव ययातिना
By Manu, the lord of men, and by King Yayāti as well,
अत्रिणा भृगुणा व्यास दत्तात्रेयेण धीमता
By Atri, Bhṛgu, Vyāsa, and the wise Dattātreya,
अत्र स्नानेन संप्राप्तं दशाश्वमेधिकं फलम्
By bathing here, the fruit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices is obtained.
दशानामश्वमेधानां फल प्राप्तं द्विजोत्तम
The fruit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices is attained, O best of twice-born.
दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा च तं देवं प्रागुक्तं लभते फलम्
By seeing and touching that deity previously mentioned, one attains the fruit.
अश्वं दद्याच्च विप्राय सुरूपं च गुणान्वितम्
One should give a horse to a brāhmaṇa, beautiful and endowed with good qualities.
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते
For as many thousands of years, one is honored in the world of Śiva.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये दशाश्वमेधमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Saṃhitā, in the fifth Avantya section, in the greatness of the Avantī field, the seventeenth chapter named 'Description of the Greatness of the Ten Aśvamedhas' [ends].
पूजां कृत्वा विधानेन सर्वसिद्धिफलं लभेत्
By performing worship according to the prescribed method, one attains the fruit of all accomplishments.
अणिमादिगुणान्सर्वान्गुटिकासिद्धिमंजनम् सर्वं तुष्टा प्रयच्छेत नात्र कार्या विचारणा
All the powers such as aṇimā, the perfection of magical pills and ointments—everything is granted when satisfied; there should be no doubt about this.
सुरामांसोपहारैश्च भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च पूजिता
When worshipped with offerings of liquor, meat, and various foods and eatables—
महानवम्यां यो देवीं महिषेण प्रपूजयेत्
Whoever worships the goddess with a buffalo on the great Navamī—
तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी
I wish to hear all this, O destroyer of all sins.
सनत्कुमार उवाच पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Sanatkumāra said: Formerly, at the beginning of the Kṛta Yuga, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds—
ततो भगवती रात्रिरुपतस्थे पितामहम्
Then the blessed Night stood before the Grandfather.
यत्कर्तव्यं त्वया देवि शृणु चार्थस्य निश्चयम्
O Goddess, hear what you must do, and the true meaning of the matter.
तारकोनाम दैत्येंद्रः सुरशत्रुरनिर्जितः
There is a demon king named Tāraka, unconquered enemy of the gods.
तस्माद्भद्रे महेशो वै जनयिष्यति चेद्वरम् 5.1.18.
Therefore, O auspicious one, if Mahesha grants the boon, he will beget a son.
शंकरम्याभवत्पत्नी सती दक्षसुता तु या
Shankara's wife was Sati, the daughter of Daksha.
भवित्री हिमशैलस्य दुहिता लोकपावनी
She will be born as the daughter of the snowy mountain, purifier of the worlds.