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.
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.