दैत्यांतकारिणी दिव्या महाकाली कुलेश्वरी
The divine Mahākālī, destroyer of demons and sovereign of lineages, abides there.
यत्र गया महापुण्या फल्गुश्चैव महानदी
There is Gaya, supremely holy, and the great river Phalgu as well.
तथैवाद्यगया ख्याता त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता 5.1.57.
In the same way, this present-day Gaya is renowned and celebrated in all three worlds.
सर्वपापहरा पुण्या यत्र प्राची सरस्वती
There, the eastern Sarasvatī, holy and remover of all sins, is found.
न्यग्रोधश्चाक्षयो नित्यः पुरा प्रोक्तो महर्षिणा
There too stands the eternal, imperishable banyan tree, once spoken of by the great sage.
तत्रैव संति ताः सर्वा देवताः पितृकल्पजाः
All those deities, born in the manner of ancestors, are present there.
सर्वतीर्थमया देवा गयातीर्थमनुत्तमम्
The gods, embodying all sacred fords, are at the unsurpassed holy place of Gaya.
यत्र प्रविष्टमात्रेण पितरो निरयस्थिताः
Where, upon merely entering, ancestors dwelling in hell are liberated.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये गयातीर्थमाहात्म्ये गयातीर्थप्रशंसावर्णनं नाम सप्तपञ्चा शत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventy-fifth chapter named 'The Praise of Gaya Tīrtha,' in the section on the greatness of Avanti Kṣetra, in the fifth book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Mahāpurāṇa Śrī Skanda.
भगवन्भवता सर्वं विदितं विश्वमूर्तिना
O Lord, all is known to you, who are the form of the universe.
तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि श्राद्धस्य फलमुत्तमम्
I wish to hear from you the supreme fruit of the śrāddha rite.
कियंतः पितरो नित्यं तृप्ता यांति सुरालयम्
For how long are the ancestors always satisfied and reach the abode of the gods?
तथापि शृणु वै वत्स श्राद्धस्य विधिमुत्तमम्
Nevertheless, listen, dear one, to the supreme procedure of śrāddha.
श्राद्धे प्रकल्पिता लोकाः श्राद्धे धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः
Worlds are established through śrāddha; righteousness is founded in śrāddha.
श्रद्धया दीयते किंचिद्दैवं ब्रह्माग्नितर्पणम्
Whatever is given with faith—whether to the gods, to Brahmā, or as an offering to fire—
मनुष्या ऋषयः सर्वे सुरसिद्धाश्च राक्षसाः
All humans, sages, divine beings, perfected ones, and even demons—
त्रीन्पितॄंश्च समुद्दिश्य श्राद्धं दद्युः समाहिताः
With focused mind, they should offer the śrāddha rite, addressing the three ancestral lines.
एवं परंपरामार्गं प्रवर्तंते सनातनम्
Thus, the eternal tradition proceeds in succession.
तत्सर्वं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथा श्रुतं तथा शृणु 5.1.58.
I will explain all this as it has been heard; listen accordingly.
अन्योन्यं पितरो ह्येते देवाः पितृगणैः सह
These ancestors are indeed gods, together with the groups of Pitṛs.
निबोध त्वं मतं सर्वं यदुक्तं तत्समाहितः
Understand fully, with concentration, all that has been declared.
चत्वारो मूर्तिमंतो वै त्रयस्तेषां च मूर्तयः
There are four who possess form, and three of them have manifestations.
तेषां लोकं विसर्गं च कीर्तयिष्यामि तच्छणु
I will recount their worlds and their emanation; listen to this.
धर्ममूर्तिधरास्तेषां तपो ये परमं गताः
Those among them who have attained supreme asceticism bear the form of Dharma.
लोकाः सनातना नाम यत्र तिष्ठंति भास्वराः
The radiant ones dwell in the worlds called eternal.
विराजस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ वैराजा इति नः श्रुतम्
Of Virāj, O best of twice-born, we have heard that his descendants are called Vairājas.
एते वै योगविभ्रष्टा लोकान्प्राप्य सनातनान्
These, having fallen from yoga, attain the eternal worlds.
ते प्राप्य तां स्मृतिं भूयः सांख्ययोगमनुत्तमम्
Having regained that memory, they again pursue the supreme Sāṃkhya-yoga.
एते स्युः पितरस्तात योगिनां योगवर्धनाः 5.1.58.
These, O dear one, are the ancestors who foster the yoga of yogins.
तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिनां द्विजसत्तम
Therefore, O best of twice-born, śrāddha offerings should be given for yogins.