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.
यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापक्षयो भवेत्
By merely hearing of it, the destruction of great sins occurs.
रेवा चर्मण्वती क्षाता तिस्रो नद्यः पुराऽनघ
The Revā, Carmaṇvatī, and Kṣātā—three rivers—were once, O sinless one,
पुण्याः पुण्यजला रम्याः पवित्राः पापहारकाः
holy, filled with sacred waters, delightful, pure, and destroyers of sin.
एकदोपवने रम्ये मांधातृक्षेत्र उत्तमे
Once, in a beautiful grove, in the excellent field of Māndhātṛ,
किंचिद्दोषप्रसंगेन मिथो भेदो ह्यजायत
Due to a slight fault arising in their association, a separation occurred between them.
महाकालवने रम्ये समा याता सरिद्वरा 5.1.56.
In the delightful forest of Mahākāla, the noble rivers spent time together.
सर्वतीर्थवरं श्रेष्ठं नामा रुद्रसरः स्मृतम्
The best among all sacred waters, known as Rudrasara, is remembered as the foremost.
तत्रागत्य पुरा क्षाता शिप्रासंगं समाश्रिता यत्र धूतरजा जातः सद्यः प्रोक्तो विभावसुः
There, having arrived and once mingled, they took refuge in the Śiprā; where the dust was cleansed, the fire was instantly declared.
एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदांवर
I wish to know this from you, O foremost among those who know Brahman.
सनत्कुमार उवाच पुरानुसूर्यां सावित्रीं त्वष्टा स्वतनयां ददौ
Sanatkumāra said: In ancient times, Tvaṣṭṛ gave Sāvitrī, his own daughter, to Sūrya.
पतिधर्मरता नित्यं सिषेवे लोकचक्षुषे
Always devoted to the duties of a wife, she served the eye of the world.
यमो वैवस्वतो जातो यमुना लोकपावनी
Yama, son of Vivasvat, was born; Yamunā, purifier of the worlds.
मिथुनं मे तवोत्संगे धृतं त्वं परिपालय
The pair has been placed in your embrace by me; you must protect them.
रविभक्तिरता नित्यं चर त्वं मम वेश्मनि
Always devoted to the worship of the Sun, you must dwell in my house.
एवं सा समयं कृत्वा सावित्री ह्यगमत्तदा
Thus, having made this agreement, Sāvitrī departed at that time.
पित्र निवारिता सद्यो वडवारूपधारिणी 5.1.56.
Immediately restrained by her father, she assumed the form of a mare.
एकदा याचिता तेन वैवस्वतेन बुभुक्षता
Once, he was begged by Vaivasvata, who was hungry.
तदा पदाहता तेन च्छाया तं च शशाप ह
Then, struck by his foot, Chāyā cursed him.
तस्मात्त्वं च पदा खंजो भविष्यसि न संशयः
Therefore, you will be lame in your foot—there is no doubt.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्यास परिभूय वसुंधराम्
Meanwhile, Vyāsa, having insulted the earth,