रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा विष्णुपूजां तथैव च
By keeping vigil at night and worshipping Vishnu in the same way,
गोसहस्रफलं तेषां प्राप्यते नाऽत्र संशयः
They obtain the fruit of giving a thousand cows—of this there is no doubt.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता विष्णुलोकं प्रयांति ते
Freed from all sins, they go to the world of Vishnu.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये गोमतीतीर्थकुण्डमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्विषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-second chapter, called 'The Greatness of the Gomati Tirtha Pool,' in the section on the sacred region of Avanti, in the fifth book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं महेश्वरम्
There, having bathed at the sacred place and seen the god Maheshvara,
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः शुचिः प्रयतमानसः
A man, pure and with concentrated mind, is freed from all sins.
भुवि पुण्यतमं तीर्थं सर्वपापहरं परम्
On earth, it is the most holy tirtha, supreme in removing all sins.
महापापहरं पुण्यं महापुण्यफलप्रदम्
It destroys great sins, is meritorious, and bestows the fruit of great merit.
विधृता शिरसि सद्यो महादेवेन शंभुना
It was instantly borne upon the head by the great god Shambhu.
गंगास्नानफलं प्राप्य विष्णु लोके महीयते
By obtaining the fruit of bathing in the Ganga, one is honored in Vishnu's world.
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा वीरलोकमवाप्नुयात्
With a mind purified from all sins, one attains the world of heroes.
वामनकुण्डेति विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
It is known as Vamana-kunda, renowned in all three worlds.
मनोरथशतं प्राप्य पश्चाद्विष्णु पुरं व्रजेत् व्यास उवाच कदा काले समुत्पन्नं वामनाख्यं पुराऽनघ
Having attained a hundred cherished desires, one then goes to the city of Vishnu. Vyasa said: O sinless one, when and at what time did the city called Vamana arise?
तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर 5.1.63.
I wish to hear all of this from you, O best of those who know Brahman.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्यते
By merely hearing of it, one is freed from all sins.
प्रह्राद इति विख्यातः सर्वधर्मभृतां वरः
Prahlada, renowned among all upholders of dharma,
धैर्येण च धृता लोकाः क्षमया विधृता मही
By his courage the worlds were sustained, and by his forgiveness the earth was upheld.
प्रश्रयेणाभ्यागताश्च जितास्तेन महात्मना
By his humility, all who approached him were won over by that great soul.
शौचाऽऽचारविशुद्धात्मा तपसा च हताऽशुभः
With purity in conduct and mind, and by austerity, he destroyed all evil.
संस्कारेण जितं जन्म दमेनाऽऽत्मा सनातनः
By refinement he conquered birth, and by self-control, his eternal self.
ईदृशश्च महायोगी सत्यधर्म परायणः
Such was the great yogi, devoted to truth and righteousness.
तस्य पौत्रः सदाचारी बलिरित्यभिधीयते
His grandson, of virtuous conduct, is known as Bali.
नाल्पायुर्न जडो मूर्खो न रोगी न च मत्सरी
He was neither young nor dull-witted, neither foolish, sickly, nor envious.
महाराजो महीपालो यज्वा विपुलदक्षिणः 5.1.63.
A great king, protector of the earth, performer of sacrifices, and generous with gifts.
एकदा च समासीने सभामध्ये वरासने
Once, as he sat in the assembly hall upon a splendid seat,
वाद्यमानेषु वाद्येषु ननृतुश्चाऽप्सरोगणाः
While the musicians played, the groups of Apsaras danced.
सूता वैतालिकाः सिद्धाश्चारणाश्च बहुश्रुताः
Bards, panegyrists, Siddhas, and Charanas, learned in many things,
सुन्दोपसुन्दतुहुंडाद्या महिषासुरकोल्बणाः
Sunda, Upasunda, Tuhuṇḍa, and others, along with the fierce Mahishasura,
कालनेमिश्च विक्रांतो दौर्हृदो मूषको यमः
Kalanemi, the mighty one, Daurhṛda, Mushaka, and Yama,
शंखो जलंधरो रौद्रो वातापी च बलाधिकः
Shankha, Jalandhara, the fierce one, and Vatapi, strong in power,