अन्यैश्च विविधैः शाकैराम्रैः पक्वैः पृथक्पृथक्
And with various other vegetables, and ripe mangoes, each served separately.
सुवासितान्गोरसांश्च परिवेष्य मृदु ब्रुवन्
Having served them fragrant curries, gently speaking.
याच्यतां रोचते यच्च यन्मया पाचितं प्रभो
Let them request whatever pleases them, and whatever has been cooked by me, O Lord.
विसर्जयेत्ततो विप्रान्दत्त्वा तांबूलदक्षिणाः
Afterwards, one should dismiss the Brahmins, having given them betel and gifts.
यो ददाति द्विजश्रेष्ठे स भवेत्सुभगो नरः
He who gives to the best of Brahmins becomes a most fortunate man.
पुत्रसौभाग्ययुक्ता च तांबूलैर्जायते प्रिये
O beloved, betel brings the blessing of fortunate sons.
चूर्णकेनानलः प्रीतः खदिरेण तु मन्मथः
Fire is pleased by powder, and the god of love by khadira wood.
परितोष्य सपत्नीकान्हस्ते दत्त्वा च मोदकान्
Having satisfied the married couples, and given sweets into their hands.
असंक्रांते व्रतं नारी या करोतीह सुप्रिये 5.1.60.
O dearest, a woman who performs the vow here without transgression—
नरो वा यदि वा नारी यः कुर्याच्च मलिम्लुचे
Whether man or woman, whoever performs the rite for the Malimluce—
मलिम्लुचे प्राप्य न पूजितो यैर्नारायणोऽहं परयेह भक्त्या
If the Malimluce is attained but not worshipped by them, I, Narayana, am not worshipped here with supreme devotion.
करोति स नरो मूर्खो महाकालवनादृते
That foolish man performs it, except in the great forest of Mahakala.
अधिमासे नरो व्यास तीर्थे पुरुषोत्तमाभिधे
In the extra month, O Vyasa, at the holy place called Purushottama—
पुरुषोत्तमं समभ्यर्च्य रमालालितपादकम्
Having worshipped Purushottama, whose feet are cherished by Lakshmi—
वांछितार्थशतं प्राप्य विष्णुलोके महीयते उपोष्य विधिवद्व्यास रात्रौ जागरणं चरेत्
Having attained a hundred desired objects, he is honored in Vishnu's world; having fasted properly, he should keep vigil at night, O Vyasa.
विष्णोश्च पूजनं कार्यं जलयात्रा तथैव च
One should perform the worship of Vishnu, and likewise the water procession.
पुत्रदारधनं सम्यगायुरारोग्यसंपदः
Properly, one obtains sons, wife, wealth, long life, health, and prosperity.
तस्य पूर्वतरे भागे जटेश्वरमहेश्वरः
In its eastern part is Jaṭeśvara, the great lord.
तपस्तप्त्वा परं लेभे पुण्यं पुण्यवतां वरः
Having performed intense austerity, he attained supreme merit, the best among the virtuous.
तस्य तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा तिलधेनुं प्रदापयेत्
At that sacred place, a man should bathe and offer a cow with sesame seeds.
तस्येशानतरे भागे रामो भार्गवसत्तमः 5.1.61.
On the other side of that place is Rama, the foremost among the descendants of Bhrigu.
कौशिकी च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सर्वतीर्थवरप्रदा
And Kauśikī, the best of rivers, grants the highest blessings of all sacred waters.
रामेश्वरं समालोक्य धूतपापो भवेन्नरः
By beholding Rāmeśvara, a man becomes freed from sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये पुरुषोत्तमेश्वरमाहात्म्येऽधिमासस्नानदानादिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the fifth Avantya Khanda, in the greatness of the Avantī region, in the greatness of Puruṣottameśvara, this is the sixty-first chapter named 'Description of the greatness of bathing, giving, and other acts during the extra month.'
गोमतीकुण्डं त्वया प्रोक्तं पुरा ब्रह्मन्सनातनम्
You have previously described to me the eternal Gomati pool, O Brahman.
शृणुष्व भो महाप्राज्ञ कथां पापहरां पराम्
Now listen, O greatly wise one, to the supreme story that destroys sin.
नैमिषे च समासीना ऋषयः शौनकादयः
At Naimisha, the sages led by Shaunaka were seated.
तस्मिन्नवसरे पुण्ये काशीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
At that auspicious moment, the supreme glory of Kashi was recounted.
ऊषरः पुण्य पापानां धन्या वाराणसी पुरी
Blessed is the city of Varanasi, the holy place where sins are destroyed.
असीवरुणयोर्मध्ये पंचक्रोशी महाफलम्
Between the Asi and Varuna rivers, the five-krosha area yields great fruit.