ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु दारिद्र्ये घोरसंकटे
In severe afflictions caused by the planets, in poverty, and in terrible distress—
क्षेत्रस्यांतर्गृहीं नित्यं ये कुर्वंति नरोत्तमाः
Those excellent men who always perform (worship) within the field's enclosure—
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं निर्धनो धनमाप्नुयात् 5.1.70.
A sonless man obtains a son; a poor man attains wealth.
अक्षया संततिस्तस्य शिवलोके महीयते
His lineage becomes unending, and he is honored in the realm of Śiva.
अवंतीतीर्थमाहात्म्यं पवित्रं वेदसंमितम्
The greatness of the Avanti tīrtha is pure and in accordance with the Vedas.
भूयस्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर तीर्थानि कतिसंख्यानि विद्यंते ह्यत्र सुव्रत
But again, I wish to hear from you, O best of knowers of Brahman: how many tīrthas exist here, O virtuous one?
उमामहेश्वरसंवादं नारदस्य च धीमतः
The dialogue between Umā and Maheśvara, and also of the wise Nārada—
तीर्थानि यानि वर्तंते तानि नो वद विस्तरात्
Tell us in detail about the tīrthas that exist.
इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्र नारदेन पुराऽनघ
Thus, O sinless one, was I formerly questioned by Nārada, O brāhmaṇa.
तीर्थानि यानि तिष्ठंति तानि वक्ष्यामि सुव्रत
I shall now tell you, O virtuous one, about the tīrthas that exist.
पुष्कराद्यानि तीर्थानि यानि कानि महीतले
The tīrthas beginning with Puṣkara, and whatever others are on the earth—
असंख्यातसहस्राणि कोटिकोटीनि सत्तम
They are countless thousands, and hundreds of millions, O noble one.
नीहारकणिकावृष्टिं गिरौ वर्षंति किन्नराः 5.1.71.
On the mountain, the Kinnaras pour down a shower of tiny drops like mist.
न हि संख्यां विजानामि तीर्थानां भुवि सत्तम
Indeed, O noble one, I do not know the number of tīrthas on earth.
तथाऽपि च प्राधान्येन कथयिष्यामि सत्तम
Nevertheless, I shall tell you the principal points, O noble one.
तावंति प्रापणीयानि प्रसिद्धानि परंतप
These are the well-known observances that must be performed, O subduer of foes.
विधिवत्कुरुते यस्तु साक्षाच्छंभुर्भवेच्च सः
Whoever performs them properly, indeed becomes like Śambhu himself.
तत्फलं जायतेऽवंत्यां वैशाखे पंचभिर्दिनैः
The fruit of this is obtained within five days in Vaiśākha, at the end.
माधवेऽपि विशेषेण ह्यवंतीस्नानमाचरेत्
One should especially bathe in Avantī during Mādhava as well.
संवत्सरव्रती स्नातस्तीर्थेतींर्थे यथाविधि
Having bathed at the holy place according to the prescribed rule, one who observes the annual vow is purified.
भुक्त्वा भोगान्सुविपुलाञ्छिवलोके महीयते
Enjoying abundant pleasures, he is honored in the world of Śiva.
माहात्म्यमेतच्छिवभक्तिवर्द्धनं यशस्करं पुण्यविवर्द्धनं च
This greatness increases devotion to Śiva, brings fame, and augments merit.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पंचम आवंत्यखंडेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये व्याससनत्कुमारसंवादे ऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैक सप्ततितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the seventieth chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of Avantīkshetra,' in the dialogue between Vyāsa and Sanatkumāra, in the Avantī section of the fifth book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
(५-२) श्रीगणेशाय नमः कथ्यतां तानि यत्नेन श्राद्धं येषु प्रदीयते
Salutations to Śrī Gaṇeśa. Tell me with care those places where śrāddha is to be performed.
सेविता देवगंधर्वैर्मुनिभिश्च निषेविता
They have been frequented by gods and gandharvas, and have been visited by sages.
तपनस्य सुता देवी यमुना लोकपावनी
The goddess Yamunā, daughter of the Sun, is the purifier of the worlds.
चन्द्रभागा वितस्ता च नर्मदाऽमरकंटके
So too are Candrabhāgā, Vitastā, and Narmadā at Amarakantaka.
केदारं पुष्करं चैव तथा कायावरोहणम्
Kedāra and Puṣkara as well, and also Kāyāvarohaṇa.
यत्रास्ते श्रीमहाकालः पापेंधनहुताशनः
There abides Śrī Mahākāla, the fire that consumes the wealth of sin.
भुक्तिदं मुक्तिदं क्षेत्रं कलिकल्मषनाशनम्
This field grants enjoyment and liberation, and destroys the sins of the Kali age.