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.
भविष्यति ततः सद्यः सुधा लोके पुरेव वः
Then, immediately, nectar will exist in the world for you as before.
वाणीं व्यास तदा दिव्यां सहसा लोकसाक्षिणीम् 5.1.51.
At that time, Vyasa uttered a divine speech, witnessed by the world.
स्त्रीबालवृद्धसहिता महाकालवनं ययुः
Together with women, children, and elders, they went to the great Kālavan.
सर्वत्र कुसुमाकीर्णां तरुच्छायाभिराश्रिताम्
Everywhere, it was strewn with flowers, sheltered by the shade of trees.
मणिसोपानरचितां पद्मखंडैश्च मंडिताम्
Adorned with steps made of jewels and decorated with lotus fragments.
ऋषयश्च महाभागा भृग्वंगिरसमु ख्यकाः
And the great and fortunate sages, renowned among the Bhṛgu and Aṅgiras lineages.
वसवश्च तथादित्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा
The Vasus, likewise the Ādityas, the Ashvins, and also the Maruts.
उपासते च शिप्रां वै संध्यावेलां समाहिताः
They worship Śiprā at the hour of twilight, absorbed in meditation.
पतिव्रता महाभागास्तत्रैव पतिभिः सह
There, the blessed and devoted wives remain together with their husbands.
राजर्षयः समासीना निर्वाणपदवीं गताः
Royal sages are seated there, having attained the path of liberation.