यावंतः पतिताः पूर्वे पापिनः सर्व एव हि
All the sinners who fell before, indeed every one of them,
तदाप्रभृति सर्वाणि कुंडानि नरकस्य वै
From that time onward, all the pits of hell,
न चैवार्तरवं किंचिच्छ्रूयते तव मंदिरे 5.1.50.
And yet, no cry of suffering is heard at all in your abode.
एक एवागतो लोके वृत्तिदो नो यमाधिप
Only one has come into the world who does not yield to the lord of death.
धर्मराजस्तदाश्रुत्य किंकराणां परं वचः
When the Lord of Dharma heard these supreme words of the messengers,
येन पुण्यप्रभावेन पापिष्ठः शिवतां गतः
By what power of merit did this most sinful one attain blessedness?
भुवि पुण्यतमे देशे महाकालवने शुभे
On earth, in the most sacred place, in the auspicious great forest of Mahākāla,
येषां शिप्रोदक स्पर्शो जायते भुवि किंकराः
O messengers, for those who touch the waters of the Śiprā on earth—
मनसा वपुषा वाचा पापानि विविधानि च
By mind, by body, and by speech, various sins are committed.
शिप्राशिप्रेति यो ब्रूते यत्र कुत्रापि मानवः
Whoever, at any place, says 'Śiprā, Śiprā,' whether man,
यत्र कीटपतंगाश्च शिप्रावारिचराश्च ये
Wherever there are insects, moths, and those who dwell in Śiprā's waters,
कृत्वान्यत्र महापापं येऽन्ते शिप्रातटं श्रिताः
Having committed great sin elsewhere, those who at the end take refuge on the banks of Śiprā,
माधवे मासि संप्राप्ते निमज्जंति नरोत्तमाः 5.1.50.
When the month of Mādhava arrives, the best of men immerse themselves.
वायसेनाहृतं मांसं तस्य राज्ञः कृतागसः
The flesh taken by the wind from the king who committed a wrong—
वापीकूपतडागादि अधिकाधिकसत्फलम्
A pond, well, or lake yields ever greater auspicious fruit.
तस्माद्दशगुणा तापी गोदा पुण्या ततोधिका तस्माद्दशगुणा शिप्रा पवित्रा पापनाशिनी
Therefore, the Tāpī river is ten times more meritorious, the Godā even more so; and thus Śiprā is ten times greater, pure, and destroyer of sin.
दमनस्य शरीरस्य मांसं शिप्रासमागतम्
The flesh of Damanas's body, having come into contact with Śiprā,
ईदृशा च नदी रम्या अवन्त्यां भुवि वर्तते
Such a beautiful river exists on the earth in Avanti.
धर्मराजवचः श्रुत्वा गणा विस्मय मागताः
Hearing the words of Dharmarāja, the hosts were struck with wonder.
गीयते च पुराणेषु यस्या माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
And in the Purāṇas, her supreme greatness is sung.
दमनस्य च निर्मुक्तिः शिप्रामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
And the liberation of Damana, the supreme greatness of Śiprā.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये शिप्रामाहात्म्ये पञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fiftieth chapter, 'The Greatness of Śiprā,' in the section on Avanti in the fifth book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यथाऽमृतभवा ख्याता पाताले नागसंमते
Just as Amṛtabhavā is renowned in Pātāla, esteemed by the serpents,
एकदा रुद्रो भिक्षार्थं नागलोके बुभुक्षितः
Once, Rudra, desiring alms, was hungry in the world of the serpents.
भिक्षां देहि वचो दीनं वाचयित्वा गृहेगृहे
Uttering the pitiable words, 'Give alms,' he went from house to house.
तदा क्रोधाभिरक्ताक्षः शूलपाणिः क्षुधार्दितः
Then, with eyes reddened by anger, holding the trident, tormented by hunger,
एकविंशतिकुण्डानि पीयूषस्य द्विजोत्तम
O best of twice-born, there were twenty-one vessels of nectar.
तत्र गत्वा स भगवाञ्छंभुः सर्वात्मसंभवः
There, having arrived, the revered Shambhu, origin of all souls,
रिक्तानि पीयूषकुण्डानि कृत्वा तत्रैव सोत्थितः
Made the vessels of nectar empty, and then rose up from that place.
कस्येदं कर्म किं जातं सुधा यस्मादितो गता
Whose deed is this? What has happened, that the nectar has disappeared from here?