तस्य पापं क्षयं याति शिवलोके महीयते
His sin is destroyed, and he is honored in the world of Shiva.
अश्वमेधफलं तस्य जागरे च क्षणेक्षणे
For every moment of wakefulness, he attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
कृत्वा तु विधिवद्व्यास शिवपूजाऽर्चनं तथा
Having properly performed the worship and adoration of Shiva, O Vyasa,
कपिलानां सवत्सानां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश
Fourteen thousand cows with calves,
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवन्त्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्र माहात्म्ये कुटुंबेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-seventh chapter, named 'The Description of the Glory of Kutumbeshvara,' in the fifth Avantya section, concerning the greatness of the Avantikṣetra, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
देवप्रयागमाख्यातं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
Devaprayaga has been described, the destroyer of all sins.
देवानां च परं स्थानं यत्र तीर्थं परंतप
O scorcher of foes, that is the supreme abode of the gods, where there is a sacred ford.
क्षिप्रायाः पूर्वभागे च तत्र तीर्थं प्रतिष्ठितम्
On the eastern side of the Kṣiprā river, there is that established holy place.
देवं माधवमित्याख्यं भुवि सर्वफलप्रदम्
There, the deity called Mādhava is known on earth as the bestower of all rewards.
आनंदभैरवस्तत्र सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः
There is Ānanda Bhairava, worshipped by all the gods.
न तस्य जायते व्यास यातना भैरवी कदा
O Vyāsa, one who worships there never experiences the torments of Bhairavī.
ज्येष्ठे मासे सिते पक्षे दशम्यां बुध हस्तयोः दशाला जायते वत्स गंगाजन्म परं शुचि
In the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha, on the tenth day when Wednesday and Hasta coincide, O dear one, the pure and supreme birth of Gaṅgā takes place.
तद्दिने च नरः स्नात्वा सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्
On that day, a person who bathes there obtains the merit of all sacred fords.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण व्रतभंगो न जायते
By merely hearing of it, one's vow is not broken.
बहुव्रतधरो दांतो वेदवेदांगपारगः।। 5.1.68.
He is devoted to many vows, self-controlled, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
किंचिद्दोषप्रसंगेन व्रतपूर्तिर्न चाभवत्
Yet, due to some minor fault, the completion of his vow did not occur.
तस्य गेहागतो ब्रह्मन्नातिथ्यार्थं महातपाः
O Brahman, to his house came a great ascetic, as a guest.
सत्कृत्य नारदं भूमन्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
He duly honored Nārada, O Lord, with actions prescribed by the scriptures.
भगवन्भवता सर्वं विदितं ज्ञानचक्षुषा
O venerable one, all is known to you through the eye of knowledge.
येन पापप्रसंगेन व्रतभंगोऽभवद्ध्रुवम्
By what association with sin did the breaking of the vow certainly occur?
महाराष्ट्रे सुविख्यातो ब्राह्मणो धनसंचकः
In Mahārāṣṭra, there was a well-known brāhmaṇa named Dhanasaṃcaka.
ब्रह्मदत्तेत्यसौ विप्रो वेदब्राह्मणनिंदकः
That brāhmaṇa was called Brahmadatta, a critic of the Vedas and brāhmaṇas.
नास्तिको देवतीर्थेषु परद्रव्यापहारकः
He was an atheist regarding gods and sacred fords, and a thief of others' wealth.
एवमायुःपरिक्षीणो धनहीनोऽभवत्तदा
Thus, his lifespan diminished and he became destitute.
गतश्चौर्यप्रसंगेन यात्रिकैः सह संगतः 5.1.68.
Having abandoned theft, he associated with travelers.
नीतः संयमिनीं विप्रस्तत्कालं यमकिंकरैः
At that time, he was taken to the abode of restraint by the servants of Yama.
दृष्टोऽसौ धर्मराजेन तदा पत्यपरायणः
He was seen then by Dharmaraja, devoted to his master.
शृणुध्वं किंकराः सर्वे यूयमेकाग्रमानसाः
Hear, all you attendants, with focused minds.
गोदातीरे मृतः पापी तत्र नः कारणं न हि
This sinner died on the bank of the Godā; for us, there is no cause there.
आयांति गौतमीतीरे सिंहस्थेऽपि बृहस्पतौ
Even when the Sun is in Leo or Jupiter in Br̥haspati, they come to the bank of the Gautamī.