सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा पुष्करस्य फलं लभेत्
With a mind purified of all sins, one obtains the fruit of Puṣkara.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये नीलगंगामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चतुःपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Samhita of the glorious Skanda Mahapurana, in the fifth Avantya section, in the greatness of the Avanti region, is the fifty-fourth chapter named 'Description of the Greatness of Nilaganga.'
महाकालवने रम्ये केन वा प्रेषितः पुरा
In the delightful Mahakala forest, by whom, and for what reason, was he formerly sent?
तदा सर्वसुरैरेवमगस्तिर्मुनिसत्तमः
At that time, the best of sages, Agastya, together with all the gods, thus—
आराधितो महाभागो धरणीत्राणकारणात्
—worshipped the illustrious one for the sake of protecting the earth.
एकाग्रमानसो भूत्वा भवानीं विंध्यवासिनीम्
With his mind made one-pointed, he worshipped Bhavani, the dweller on Vindhya.
कंसविद्रावणकरीमसुराणां क्षयंकरीम्
She who causes the flight of Kamsa, who brings destruction to the demons—
यशोदागर्भसंभूतां चाणूरबलमर्दिनीम्
—who was born from the womb of Yashoda, who crushed the strength of Chanura—
जननीं देवसेनस्य कवीनां वाचमीश्वरीम्
—the mother of Devasena, the sovereign of the speech of poets—
सहस्राक्षीं तथेंद्रस्य ऋषेश्चारुंधतीं पराम्
—the thousand-eyed one for Indra, and for the sage, the supreme Arundhati—
अदितिं सर्वमातॄणां पार्वतीं सर्वयोषिताम्
—Aditi among all mothers, Parvati among all women—
शारदीमृतुवेलायां वृंदावनचरीं वराम् 5.1.55.
—the best who wanders in Vrindavana during the autumn season—
लक्ष्मीं च श्रीमतामिष्टां यक्षिणीं धनदार्चिताम्
—Lakshmi, beloved of the fortunate, the Yakshini honored by Kubera—
वेदिकां यज्ञशालानां हविराहवनीं शुभाम् । दक्षिणां सर्वदीक्षाणां सर्वकामफलप्रदाम्
—the altar of sacrificial halls, the auspicious fire of oblation, the gift for all initiations, the bestower of all desired fruits—
एवं स्तुता तदा देवी प्रत्यक्षा विंध्यवासिनी
Thus praised, at that time, the goddess, the dweller on Vindhya, appeared directly.
वियतां भो द्विजश्रेष्ठ यदस्मत्तोऽभिवांछितम्
"O best of twice-born, ask for whatever you desire from me."
रेवेयं वर्द्धिता लोके सर्वलोकभयप्रदा
This Reva has grown in the world, bringing fear to all beings.
तयेदं प्लावितं विश्वं तस्यास्तु ग्रहणं कुरु
By her, this universe has been flooded; take hold of her.
आगात्साध्वी तदा व्यास महाकालवनं शुभम्
Then, O Vyasa, that virtuous lady came to the auspicious Mahakala forest.
वारयिष्ये परां देवीं वर्धमानां द्रुतं ह्यृषे
"I will swiftly restrain the supreme goddess who is increasing, O sage."
यावत्त्रिकूटे द्वारे त्वं स्थास्य सि ऋषिसत्तम
As long as you remain at the gate of Trikūṭa, O best of sages,
कुशस्थली महापुण्या पवित्रा पापहारिणी तत्रैवाहं चिरं कालं मातृभिर्निवसामि वै ।। 5.1.55.
Kuśasthalī, supremely holy, pure, and destroyer of sin—there, indeed, I dwell for a long time with the Mothers.
तत्रापि त्वं सदा सिद्धक्षेत्राधिपत्यमाप्नुयाः
Even there, you shall always obtain lordship over the field of Siddhas.
यत्र पुण्यवतां वासो देव्यस्तिष्ठंति कोटिशः
Where the abode of the virtuous is, goddesses reside by the millions.
यजंति चैव मां भक्त्या धूपदीपाग्नितर्पणैः
And they worship me with devotion, using incense, lamps, fire offerings.
न तेषां दुर्लभं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते
For them, nothing is difficult to obtain in the three worlds.
प्राप्यंते विविधा भोगा देवानामपि दुर्लभाः
They attain various enjoyments, even those rare for the gods.
न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात्कदा चित्संभविष्यति
Never shall harm come to them from weapons, fire, or floods.
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा मृतः शिवपुरं व्रजेत् ।। एवं व्यास पुरीं प्राप्य रम्यां चोज्जयिनीं शुभाम्
With all sins cleansed from the soul, one who dies goes to the city of Shiva. Thus, Vyāsa, having reached the delightful and auspicious city of Ujjayinī,
समाश्रिता तदा देवी सततं विंध्यवासिनी
The goddess Vindhyavāsinī is always sought there.