तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन नोऽस्माकं कारणं क्वचित्
Because of that power of merit, there is never any cause for us.
एवं तैर्मोचितो विप्रः पुनर्ब्रह्मगतिं गतः
Thus, released by them, the brahmin again attained the path of Brahman.
किं तपः किं च दानं च किं तीर्थव्रतसेवनम्
What is penance? What is charity? What is the observance of sacred places and vows?
येन पुण्यप्रभावेन व्रतभंगो न जायते
By the power of what merit does the breaking of a vow not occur?
यत्र रुद्रसरः प्रोक्तमृषिणा तत्त्वदर्शिना ।। 5.1.68.
Where Rudra's lake was declared by the seer who perceives the truth.
कोटिकोटिसुतीर्थानि वर्तंते द्विजसत्तम
O best of twice-born, crores upon crores of holy places exist there.
तत्तीर्थस्योत्तरे भागे सुतीर्थं सर्वकामदम्
To the north of that holy place is Sutīrtha, the fulfiller of all desires.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्
By merely seeing it, one obtains the fruit of all sacrifices.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स द्विजोऽगात्कुमुद्वतीम्
Hearing these words, that brahmin went to the Kumudvatī.
सद्यः पुण्यवतांलोकान्प्राप्तो वै द्विजसत्तमः
Immediately, the best of brahmins attained the worlds of the virtuous.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्येऽखंडेश्वरमहिमवर्णननामाष्टषष्टितमोऽध्या यः
Thus ends the sixty-eighth chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of Akhaṇḍeśvara,' in the section on the glory of the Avanti region, in the fifth book of the eighty-eight-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
कीर्तितं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वं मार्कंडेयस्य पृच्छतः
Formerly, this was narrated by Brahmā in response to Mārkaṇḍeya's question.
शृणु वत्स महीपृष्ठे शिप्रा दिव्यतरा नदी
Listen, dear child, upon the earth’s surface flows the river Śiprā, most divine among rivers.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण महापापक्षयो भवेत्
By merely beholding her, the destruction of great sins occurs.
तस्य स्थाने गतो भानुर्याम्यायनकरः परः
At her location, the radiant sun, supreme among those who move southward, has arrived.
तत्र मृताः प्रवर्तंते योगिनोऽपि परंतप
There, even yogis who have died, O scorcher of foes, continue onward.
न तेषां सद्गतिर्वत्स सत्यमेव ब्रवीमि ते
For them, O child, there is not a good destination; I speak the truth to you.
तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय तीर्थमेतद्विनिर्मितम्
For their deliverance, this sacred place has been established.
चराचरमिदं विश्वं जगत्सर्वं जगत्पते
This entire universe, both moving and unmoving, O Lord of the world, is encompassed here.
चातुमास्ये हरौ सुप्ते धर्माऽऽचारविधिः स्मृतः
During the four months, when Hari sleeps, the practice of dharma is prescribed.
यच्छुत्वा भारते खण्डे नृणां मुक्तिर्न दुर्लभा ।। 5.1.69.
Upon hearing this in the land of Bhārata, liberation for people is not difficult to attain.
मुक्तिप्रदोऽयं भगवान्संसारोत्तारकारणः
This Lord grants liberation and is the cause for crossing over worldly existence.
मानुष्यं दुर्लभं लोके तत्राऽपि च कुलीनता
Human birth is rare in this world, and even more so is noble lineage.
सत्संगमो न यत्राऽस्ति विष्णुभक्तिर्व्रतानि न
Where there is no association with the virtuous, nor devotion to Viṣṇu, nor observance of vows,
चातुर्मास्ये ऽव्रती यस्तु तस्य पुण्यं निरर्थकम्
He who does not observe vows during the four months, his merit is fruitless.
विष्णुमाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति चातुर्मास्ये समागते
Those who rely upon Viṣṇu remain steadfast when the four months arrive.
सुपुष्टेन च देहेन जीवितं तस्य शोभनम्
With a well-nourished body, his life is auspicious.
कृतार्थास्तस्य विबुधा यावज्जीवं वरप्रदाः
His purposes are fulfilled; the gods grant boons to him for as long as he lives.
तस्य पापशतान्याहुर्देहस्थानि न संशयः
They say that hundreds of sins residing in his body are destroyed, without doubt.
चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सुप्ते देवे जनार्दने।। चातुर्मास्ये नरः स्नात्वा कर्करात्रे द्विजोत्तम । देहशुद्धिं विधायाऽऽदौ मुक्तिमार्गमवाप्नुयात्
Especially during the four months, when the god Janārdana sleeps: if a man bathes, O best of twice-born, on the day of Karkarā, purifies his body, and at the outset follows the path to liberation.