पंचक्रोशं गयाक्षेत्रं क्रोशमेकं गयाशिरः सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु गयाश्राद्धं विधीयते
The Gayā region is five krośas, and Gayāśira is one krośa; at all times and in every season, the Gayā śrāddha is performed.
संवत्सरे परं व्यास दिनमेकं प्रतिष्ठितम् महालयेति तत्प्रोक्तं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
In the year, O Vyāsa, one day is specially established, called Mahālaya, and the offering to the ancestors given then is imperishable.
सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु गयाश्राद्धं विधीयते
At all times and in every season, the Gayā śrāddha is performed.
संवत्सरे परं व्यास दिनमेकं प्रतिष्ठितम्
In the year, O Vyāsa, one day is specially established.
अक्षय्या जायते तृप्तिः पितॄणां कल्पसंख्यया
The satisfaction of the ancestors thus produced is inexhaustible, lasting for the measure of a kalpa.
भूयस्तु संप्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं परमाद्भुतम्
Now I shall further declare the most wondrous glory.
सप्तर्षीणां च या भार्या ऋषिपत्न्यः पतिव्रताः
The wives of the Seven Sages, who are devoted to their husbands,
ऋषिभिश्च परित्यक्ता बभ्रमुश्च वनाद्वनम् 5.1.59.
Were abandoned by the sages and wandered from forest to forest.
तासां च प्रियमन्विच्छन्समायातो वनांतरे
Desiring to please them, he arrived in another part of the forest.
उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा देशकालोचितं वचः
He spoke with gentle words, saying what was appropriate for the time and place.
कस्माच्च ऋषिभिस्त्यक्ता लोकमातरः पतिव्रताः
Why have the mothers of the world, devoted to their husbands, been abandoned by the sages?
ऋषिपत्न्य ऊचुः न जानीमो वयं तात येन दोषेण तापसैः
The wives of the sages said: 'We do not know, dear one, by what fault we have been cast off by the ascetics.'
लोकापवादजं किंचिज्जातं दिष्टवशादधम्
Some blame has arisen among people, due to fate, though we are innocent.
यस्याराधनपुण्येन पतिसांनिध्यमाप्नुयुः
By the merit of worshipping that place, one may attain the presence of one's husband.
इति पृष्टस्तदा ताभिर्ऋषिपत्नीभिर्नारदः
Thus questioned by those wives of the sages, Nārada...
महाकालवने रम्ये गयातीर्थमनुत्तमम्
...in the delightful great Kāla forest, spoke of the supreme Gayā tīrtha.
तत्रैव चाक्षयो नाम न्यग्रोधः शाखिनां वरः
There stands the imperishable banyan, named Akṣaya, the best of trees.
सर्वदोषहरं तीर्थं सर्वकामवरप्रदम् 5.1.59.
That sacred place removes all faults and grants every desired boon.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषिपन्त्यः सुचोदिताः
Hearing Nārada's words, the wives of the sages, well instructed...
आजग्मुस्तद्वनं तत्र यत्र तीर्थं गयाभिधम्
...went to that forest where the sacred Gayā tīrtha was.
कृतास्ताभिश्च पुण्याभिर्नभस्यस्यासितेतरे
There, those virtuous women performed rites on the dark half of the month of Nabhasya.
उपोष्य चैकरात्रं तु जागरं चैव योगतः
Having fasted for one night and kept vigil in a state of yoga...
भर्तृकोपपरिभ्रष्टाः सद्यः प्राप्ता गृहाश्रमम्
...those who had been cast away by their husbands' anger at once regained their household life.
तदाप्रभृति लोकेस्मिन्पंचमी ऋषिसंज्ञिता
From that time onward in this world, the fifth day is known as Ṛṣi Pañcamī.
नीवाराहारकं कृत्वा शुचीभूय समाहिताः दुर्भगत्वं च नारीणां न वियोगश्च मातृभिः
Having eaten only nivāra rice, becoming pure and concentrated, there will be no misfortune for women, nor separation from mothers...
पुत्रतो धनतो वापि कदाचित्संभविष्यति
...whether from sons or from wealth, at any time.
अवंत्यामीदृशं तीर्थं वर्तते भुवि सत्तम 5.1.59.
O noble one, in Avanti there exists such a sacred place upon the earth.
अस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः कश्चिन्महा दानानि चेच्चरेत्
If any man should perform great acts of charity at this holy site,
यो वै नियमवान्भूत्वा कथामेतां शृणोति वा
Or whoever, having observed discipline, listens to this narrative,
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पंचम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये गयातीर्थमाहात्म्य वर्णनंनामैकोनषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Gayā Tīrtha,' in the Avanti Section of the Fifth Book of the glorious Skanda Purāṇa, comprising eighty-one thousand verses.