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.
स्त्रियो वा रजो दोषार्ता वंध्याः काकबकादिकाः
Women afflicted by menstrual impurity, the barren, and those like crows and cranes,
विमलोदेऽपि ताः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा वै विंध्यवासिनीम् 5.1.55.
Even those impure, after bathing and beholding Vindhyavāsinī,
अपुत्रा प्राप्नुयुः पुत्रान्कन्या वीरपतिं वरम्
The childless obtain sons, girls secure heroic husbands as their boon.
विद्यावाञ्जायते विप्रः क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत्
A Brahmin becomes learned, a Kshatriya becomes victorious.
कथां पुण्यवतीमेतां सर्वकामवरप्रदाम्
This sacred tale grants all desired boons.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये विंध्यवासिनी विमलोदतीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पञ्चपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of the Vimalodā Tīrtha and Vindhyavāsinī,' in the Avanti Section of the Fifth Book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
यत्र तु स्नानमात्रेण महापापैः प्रमुच्यते
Where, merely by bathing, one is freed from great sins,
अमा वै शनिवारेण यदायाति समाहितः
When the new moon falls on a Saturday, and one arrives with a focused mind,
पश्येच्छनैश्चरं देवं स्थावरं लिंगमुत्तमम्
One should behold, with reverence, the supreme emblem of the god, both moving and unmoving.
भूयस्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण तपोधन
I wish to hear further, in detail, O ascetic rich in austerity.