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.
पुरुषोत्तमं परं तीर्थं त्वया प्रोक्तं पुरानघ एतत्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर
O sinless one, you have spoken of Purushottama, the supreme holy place of old; I wish to hear about it from you, O best among knowers of Brahman.
शृणुष्व भो द्विजश्रेष्ठ कथां पापहरां पराम्
Listen, O best of twice-born, to the supreme story that removes sin.
यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापक्षयो भवेत्
By merely hearing it, the destruction of great sins occurs.
समासीनो रमानाथः पार्षदैः सनकादिभिः
Seated with his attendants, such as Sanaka and others, was Ramānātha.
ऋदिसिद्धिगुणोपेतैस्तत्त्वैस्तैर्महदादिभिः
Those companions were endowed with the qualities of sages and powers, with the principles beginning from the great elements.
किन्नरोद्गानसन्मानैर्नृत्यद्भिरप्सरोगणैः
Honored by the singing of Kinnaras and the dancing of groups of Apsaras,
कल्पद्रुमकृतच्छाय आसीनो हि मुरुद्विषः
He, the enemy of Mura, sat beneath the shade made by the wish-fulfilling tree.
तेषां मध्ये परा भाषा ह्यपृच्छत्कमलापतिम्
Among them, the supreme speech was addressed to the lord of lotuses.
सर्वज्ञोसि महाप्राज्ञ वाच्यतां यदि रोचते
You are all-knowing, greatly wise; let it be spoken, if it pleases you.
तथापि विधिना प्राप्तं तत्सर्वं चाक्षयं भवेत् ।। 5.1.60.
Yet, whatever is attained by prescribed means, all that becomes imperishable.