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?
महदतिक्रमणे शंकाः पुरात्ते निर्ययुर्बहिः
Previously, doubts arose among you all about a great transgression.
येनास्माकं कोपितेन हृतं चामृतमुत्तमम् 5.1.51.
By whom, angered against us, was our excellent nectar taken away?
इत्युक्त्वा पन्नगाः सर्वे सस्त्रीबालपरिग्रहाः
Having spoken thus, all the serpents, with their wives and children,
तेषामनुग्रहार्थाय वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
For their compassion, a bodiless voice spoke aloud,
भिक्षार्थमागतः शम्भुः क्षुधार्तश्च गृहेगृहे
Shambhu came seeking alms, hungry, from house to house.
दत्ता न भिक्षा केनापि भोगवत्यां पिनाकिनः
No one gave alms to Pinaki in the city of Bhogavati.
तेन नष्टा सुधा सर्वा कुंडांते पन्नगोत्तमाः
Therefore, all the nectar was lost at the end of the vessels, O best of serpents.
तत्रैका वै सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा शिप्रानामेति विश्रुता
There, indeed, is a foremost river, renowned as Shipra.
यस्या दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
By merely seeing her, all sins are destroyed.
भजनं देवदेवस्य ततः पूजां करिष्यथ
Worship the Lord of gods there, then you shall perform the ritual.