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.
तत्राऽपि निर्झरे कूपे तडागे वा सरस्यपि 5.1.69.
There also, whether in a waterfall, well, pond, or lake.
तेषु यः स्नाति वै नित्यं तस्य पापक्षयो भवेत्
Whoever bathes daily in these, his sins are destroyed.
तस्मान्नद्यधिका पुण्या समाख्याता सुरासुरैः
Therefore, rivers are declared more sacred by gods and demons.
चातुर्मास्ये तु यः स्नाति पुण्यसंख्या ततोऽधिका रेवायां भास्करे क्षेत्रे प्राच्यां सागरसंगमे
During the four months, whoever bathes gains greater merit; at the confluence of the Reva and the eastern ocean, in the field of the Sun.
एकाहमपि यः स्नाति चातुर्मास्ये न दुःखभाक्
Even if one bathes for a single day during the four months, he does not become subject to suffering.
सुप्ते देवे जगन्नाथे पापं याति सहस्रधा
When the Lord of the universe sleeps, sin increases a thousandfold.
स भित्त्वा कर्मजं देहं याति विष्णोः सलोकताम् क्षणमेकं क्षणार्धं वा चातुर्मास्ये ऽतिलंघयेत्
Having broken through the body born of karma, he attains the same world as Vishnu; if he neglects even a moment or half a moment during the four months.
तिलोदकेनामलसंयुतेन बिल्वोदकेनापि च मज्जयेद्यः
Whoever immerses himself with water mixed with sesame or with water from the bilva tree.
गंगां स्मरति यो नित्यमुदपानसमीपतः
Whoever remembers the Ganga daily near a water source.
गंगाऽपि देवदेवस्य चरणांऽगुष्ठवाहिनी 5.1.69.
The Ganga too flows from the toe of the Lord of gods.