Skandapurana 6.3.230

Sūta said: / Having spoken thus to the son of Pāṇḍu, the wise sage, / the son of Mṛkaṇḍu who remembers seven aeons, then paused before [him].

Just as it was spoken by the sage Mārkaṇḍa to Pārtha, O best of men, / so the entire, supreme Revāmāhātmya has been related to you.

This holy, best of rivers, the Revā, the sole purifier of the universe, / sprang from the body of Rudra and grants fearlessness to all living beings.

From Oṅkāra to the ocean, the son of Bhṛgu recounted / the divisions of the sacred fords and confluences to the inquiring son of Dharma.

In summary, O sages, I shall likewise tell you: / sixty-seven thousand and sixty crores [of them]—

how could they be described here by anyone, even in hundreds of years? / Nevertheless, O best of sages, just as was spoken to Pārtha here,

I shall state the auspicious series of sacred fords, beginning with the sacred ford of Oṅkāra. / Listen, O great seers, as it is related in summary.

Having bowed to Soma and Maheśāna, having bowed to both Brahmā and Acyuta, / to Sarasvatī, Gaṇeśāna, and the lotus-feet of the son of Diti,

and to all the ancient teachers who know seen and unseen matters, / and having bowed to the goddess Narmadā, I shall declare this series of sacred fords.

Om, salutations to the universal form, to Oṅkāra, the Self of all, / starting from which I shall declare the series of sacred fords on the Revā, O twice-born.

In this auspicious sequence of the sacred fords on the Revā declared by Mārkaṇḍa, / [there are] the chapters of the purāṇa compendium and the description of Mārkaṇḍa's hermitage;

then the authority of the question, and the praise of Narmadā's origin, / as well as the proclamation of the fifteen currents;

likewise the etymological explanation of names, and the origins of the aeons, / as well as the enumeration of the names of twenty-one aeons;

and the characteristics of the seven [aeons] experienced by Mārkaṇḍeya, / and the māhātmya of Revā, and of Śiva and Viṣṇu;

likewise the nature of dissolution, and the origin of Oṅkāra, / as well as the māhātmya of Oṅkāra, and the celebration of Amarakaṇṭa;

and the sacred ford of Amareśvara, as well as the great Dāruvana, / the sacred ford of Dārukeśvara, and indeed the sacred ford of Carukeśvara;

the confluence of the Carukā, likewise the [sacred ford] of Vyatīpāteśvara, / the sacred ford of Pātāleśvara, and likewise the one named Koṭiyajña;

and the sacred ford of Varuṇeśvara, and the hundred and eight liṅgas, / Siddheśvara, Yameśa, and, after this, Brahmeśvara;

and Sārasvata, Aṣṭarudra, Sāvitra, and the one named Soma, / the great sacred ford of Śivakhāta, and Rudrāvarta, O best of twice-born;

the supreme sacred ford of Brahmāvarta, and after this, Sūryāvarta, / and the sacred ford of Pippalāvarta, and the confluence of the Pippalī;

the māhātmya of Amarakaṇṭa, and the confluence of the Kapilā, / and the origin of the Viśalyā, and the proclamation of Mount Bhṛgutuṅga;

the holy confluence of the Viśalyā, the meeting of the Karamardā, / the sacred ford of Karamardeśvara, and the unsurpassed Cakra sacred ford;

the confluence of the Nīlagaṅgā, and the destruction of Tripura, / the mention of gifts at the sacred fords, and the observance of the Madhukatṛtīyā;

and the sacred ford of Apsareśvara, then the rite for casting off the body, / the sacred ford named Jvāleśvara, and the confluence of the Jvālā;

the Śakra sacred ford, Kuśāvarta, and likewise Haṃsatīrtha, / the sacred ford of Ambarīṣa, and Mahākāleśvara;

and the sacred ford of Mātṛkeśvara, and the detailed description of Bhṛgutuṅga, / therein the māhātmya of Bhairava, and the proclamation of Capaleśvara;

the māhātmya of Caṇḍapāṇi, and the confluence of the Kāverī, / the sacred ford of Kubereśvara, and the confluence of the Vārāhī;

the confluence of the Caṇḍavegā, and the sacred ford of Caṇḍeśvara, / the holy confluence of the Eraṇḍī, and the supreme Eraṇḍeśvara.

And there itself is Pitṛtīrtha, and the origin of Oṅkāra, / and the māhātmya of the five liṅgas of Oṅkāra, O best of sages;

the māhātmya of Koṭitīrtha, and the sacred ford Kākahrada; / and the sacred ford Jambukeśvara, and after that Sārasvata;

likewise the confluence of the Kapilā, and the sacred ford Kapileśvara; / and the sacred ford Daityasūdana, and Cakratīrtha, and Vāmana.

The ancients knew a hundred thousand sacred fords at the confluence of the Kapilā; / and the characteristics of heaven and hell spoken by the sage;

the constitution of the body, the description of the gift of a cow; / the sacred ford Aśokavanikā, the description of Mataṅga's hermitage;

and the sacred ford Aśokeśvara, and excellent Mataṅgeśvara; / likewise the holy Mṛgavana, and the sacred ford Manoratha there;

the confluence of the Aṅgāragartā, excellent Aṅgāreśvara; / likewise the sacred ford Meghavana, the recitation of the names of the Goddess;

and also the confluence of the Kubjā, and the sacred ford Kubjeśvara; / likewise the sacred ford Bilvāmraka, and after that Pūrṇadvīpa;

likewise the confluence of the Hiraṇyagarbhā, whose praise brings merit; / the sacred ford named Dvīpeśvara, and holy Yajñeśvara;

and the sacred ford of Māṇḍavya's hermitage, and the confluence of the Viśokā; / the sacred ford named Vāgīśvara, and the holy confluence of the Vāgu;

Sahasrāvartaka there, and likewise the sacred ford Saugandhika; / and the confluence of the Sarasvatī, and the excellent sacred ford Īśāna;

and the sacred ford Devatātraya, and after that Śūlakhāta; / Brahmoda, Śāṅkara, Saumya, and after that Sārasvata;

and the sacred ford Sahasrayajña, and Kapālamocana; / Āgneya, Aditīśa, and the excellent sacred ford Vārāha;

likewise the sacred ford Devapatha, the sacred ford Yajñasahasraka; / Śuklatīrtha, Dīptikeśa, Viṣṇutīrtha, and Yodhana;

and the sacred ford Narmadeśvara, Varuṇeśa, and Māruta; / Yogeśa, Rohiṇītīrtha, and Dārutīrtha, O best of men;

Brahmāvarta, Pattreśa, Vāhna, and Saura is proclaimed; / Meghanāda, Dārutīrtha, Devatīrtha, Guhāśraya;

that named Narmadeśvara, excellent Kapilatīrtha; / Karañjeśa, Kuṇḍaleśa, and after that Pippalāda;

and the sacred ford Vimaleśvara, and the confluence of the Puṣkariṇī; / the praise of Śūlabheda, and there too the prowess of Andhaka;

the granting of reassurance to the gods, and likewise the vanquishing of Andhaka; / and the origin of Śūlabheda, and the testing of the recipient;

the praise of the duty of giving, the manifestation of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; / the going to heaven of Dīrghatapas, and the gesture of Bhānumatī;

the ascent to heaven of the Śabara, the māhātmya arising from Śūlabheda; / and the sacred ford Kapileśvara, and after that Mokṣatīrtha;

and the confluence of the Mokṣa river, and the sacred ford Vimaleśvara; / likewise the sacred ford Ulūka, and the confluence of the Puṣkariṇī;

and the sacred ford Ādityeśvara, and the sacred ford Saṅgameśvara; / the confluence of the Bhīmakulyā, and auspicious Bhīmeśvara sacred ford;

and the sacred ford Mārkaṇḍeśvara, and likewise Pippaleśvara; / and the sacred ford Karoṭīśvara, and the auspicious sacred ford Indreśvara;

Agastyeśa, Kumāreśa, unexcelled Vyāseśvara; / Vaidyanātha, and Kedāra, and that named Ānandeśvara;

and Mātṛtīrtha, Muṇḍeśa, Caura, and likewise Kāmeśvara; / and the confluence of the Anuduhyā at the sacred ford called Bhīmārjuna; / the sacred ford named Dharmeśvara, and after that Luṅkeśvara;

then the sacred ford Dhanada, Jaṭeśa, Maṅgaleśvara; / and the sacred ford Kapileśvara, and excellent Gopāreśvara;

named Maṇināgeśvara, and the confluence of the Maṇi river; / and the sacred ford Tilakeśvara, and after that Gautameśa;

there itself Mātṛtīrtha, declared by the sage, O best of sages; / Śaṅkhacūḍa, Kedāra, and after that Pārāśara;

Bhīmeśvara, Candreśa, and the confluence of the Aśvavatī; / Bahvīśvara, Nāradeśa, Vaidyanātha, Kapīśvara;

Kumbheśvara, Mārkaṇḍa, Rāmeśa, Lakṣmaṇeśvara; / Megheśvara, Matsyakeśa, and that named Apsarāhrada;

Dadhiskanda, Madhuskanda, Nandikeśa, Vāruṇa; / and the sacred ford Pāvakeśvara, and likewise Kapileśvara;

the sacred ford called Nārāyaṇa, unexcelled Cakratīrtha; / the supreme sacred ford Caṇḍāditya, excellent Caṇḍikātīrtha;

the sacred ford called Yamahāsa, likewise auspicious Gaṅgeśvara; / that named Nandikeśvara, and that called Naranārāyaṇa;

Naleśvara, Mārkaṇḍa, and after that Śuklatīrtha; / the supreme sacred ford Vyāseśvara, and likewise Siddheśvara there;

Koṭitīrtha, Prabhātīrtha, excellent Vāsukīśvara; / and the confluence of the Karañjā, excellent Mārkaṇḍeśvara;

the sacred ford named Koṭīśvara, likewise that called Saṃkarṣaṇa; / Kanakeśa, Manmatheśa, and the sacred ford Anasūyaka;

the holy confluence of the Eraṇḍī, and splendid Mātṛtīrtha; / the sacred ford called Svarṇaśalākā, and likewise Ambikeśvara;

Karañjeśa, Bhārateśa, Nāgeśa, Mukuṭeśvara; / the sacred ford Saubhāgyasundarī, excellent Dhanadeśvara;

Rohiṇya, Cakratīrtha, and that named Uttareśvara; / Bhogeśvara, Kedāra, and after that Niṣkalaṅka;

Mārkaṇḍa, Dhautapāpa, and the sacred ford Āṅgiraseśvara; / the confluence of the Koṭavī, and indeed Koṭitīrtha there;

the supreme sacred ford Ayonija, excellent Aṅgāreśvara; / Skānda, Nārmada, Brāhma, and that named Vālmīkeśvara.

Koṭitīrtha, Kapāleśa, Pāṇḍutīrtha, Trilocana, / Kapileśa, Kambukeśa, Prabhāsa, Kohaneśvara,

Indreśa, Vālukeśa, Deveśa, and Śakra indeed, / Nāgeśvara, Gautameśa, and the supreme Ahalyātīrtha,

Rāmeśvara, Mokṣatīrtha, likewise Kuśeśvara and Laveśvara, / Narmadeśa, Kapardīśa, and thereafter Sāgareśa,

the supreme Dhaurādityatīrtha, and another sacred ford [named] Ayonija, / the Piṅgaleśvara sacred ford, and unsurpassed Bhṛgvīśvara,

Daśāśvamedhika sacred ford, and Koṭitīrtha, O best of beings, / Mārkaṇḍa, Brahmatīrtha, and the supreme Ādivārāha,

the sacred ford named Āśāpūra, Kaubera, likewise Māruta, / Varuṇeśa, Yameśa, Rāmeśa, and Karkaṭeśvara,

Śakreśa, Somatīrtha, and the unsurpassed Nandāhrada, / the Vaiṣṇava Cakratīrtha, and the one known as Rāmakeśava,

likewise Rukmiṇītīrtha, the unsurpassed Śivatīrtha, / Jayavārāhatīrtha, and the sacred ford named Asmāhaka,

Aṅgāreśa, Siddheśa, and thereafter Tapeśvara, / again Siddheśvara by name, and the Varuṇeśvara sacred ford,

holy Parāśareśvara, unsurpassed Kusumeśa, / the Kuṇḍaleśvara sacred ford, and likewise Kalakaleśvara,

the one named Nyaṅkuvārāha, and the supreme Aṅkola sacred ford, / Śvetavārāhatīrtha, Bhārgala, and the supreme Saura,

Huṅkārasvāmitīrtha, and beautiful Śuklatīrtha, / the confluence of Madhumatī, and the Saṅgameśvara sacred ford,

the one named Narmadeśvara, and the confluence of three rivers, / Anekeśvaratīrtha, Śarbheśa, and that named Mokṣa,

the holy confluence of Kāverī, the sacred ford named Gopeśvara, / Mārkaṇḍeśa, Nāgeśa, and the confluence of Udambarī,

the sacred ford named Sāmbāditya, and the confluence of Udambarī, / Siddheśvara, Mārkaṇḍa, and the one created by Siddheśvarī,

Gopeśa, Kapileśa, and unsurpassed Vaidyanātha, / the Piṅgaleśvara sacred ford, and the great Saindhavāyatana,

the sacred ford named Bhūtīśvara, and thereafter Gaṅgāvāha, / the Gautameśvara sacred ford, and likewise Daśāśvamedhika,

likewise holy Bhṛgutīrtha, the famed Saubhāgyasundarī, / Vṛṣakhāta right there, and Kedāra that cleanses sins,

the Dhūteśvarīsaṅga sacred ford, likewise that named Eraṇḍī, / the sacred ford of Kanakeśvarī, and thereafter Jvāleśvara,

the sacred ford named Śālagrāma, unsurpassed Somanātha, / likewise Udīrṇavārāha, and the Candraprabhāsa sacred ford,

Dvādaśādityatīrtha, and likewise that called Siddheśvara, / Kapileśvaratīrtha, and likewise auspicious Traivikrama,

the sacred ford named Viśvarūpa, and that fashioned by Nārāyaṇa, / Mūlaśrīpatitīrtha, and that known as Caulaśrīpati,

Devatīrtha, Haṃsatīrtha, the supreme Prabhāsatīrtha, / Mūlasthāna, Kaṇṭheśa, and thereafter Aṭṭahāsa,

the Bhūrbhuveśvara sacred ford, and the renowned Śūleśvarī, / Sārasvata, Dārukeśa, and the supreme sacred ford of the Aśvins,

incomparable Sāvitrītīrtha, and likewise Vālakhilyeśvara, / Narmadeśa, Mātṛtīrtha, and unsurpassed Devatīrtha,

Macchakeśvaratīrtha, and beautiful Śikhitīrtha, / Koṭitīrtha, O best of sages, and there Koṭīśvarī Mṛḍā,

the sacred ford named Paitāmaha, known as Māṇḍavyeśvara, / there Nārāyaṇeśa, and thereafter Akrūreśa,

Devakhāta, Siddharudra, unsurpassed Vaidyanātha, / likewise Mātṛtīrtha, and thereafter Uttareśa,

likewise Narmadeśa, and then again Mātṛtīrtha, / and likewise Kurarītīrtha, Ḍhauṇḍheśa, and Daśakanyaka,

Suvarṇabindutīrtha, which frees from debts and sins; / they know the sacred ford of Bhārabhūteśvara, and likewise Muṇḍīśvara,

Ekaśāla, Ḍiṇḍipāṇi, and the supreme sacred ford of the apsarases, / Munyālaya, Mārkaṇḍa, and the one named Gaṇitādevatā,

the Āmaleśvara sacred ford, and likewise the Kantheśvara sacred ford; / they speak of Āṣāḍhītīrtha, and likewise Śṛṅgītīrtha,

the Bakeśvara sacred ford, and likewise Kapāleśa, / Mārkaṇḍa, Kapileśa, and the confluence of the Eraṇḍī,

the Eraṇḍīdevatā sacred ford, and thereafter Rāmatīrtha, / the supreme sacred ford of Jamadagni, and the confluence of Revā and the ocean,

Loṭaneśvaratīrtha, and likewise that named Talluṅkeśa, / and right there the pool [named] Vṛṣarakhāta, O best of seers,

likewise Haṃseśvara by name, Tilāda, Vāsaveśvara, / likewise the sacred ford Koṭīśvara, the supreme Alikātīrtha, / and Vimaleśvaratīrtha at the confluence of Revā and the ocean.

Thus the holy garland of sacred fords has been declared by me, O great seers, / a holy pearl-string of sacred fords strung with the cord of the [river's] bank,

washed in the waters of Narmadā, composed by Mārkaṇḍeya, / for the adornment of virtuous people here and for the benefit of all the world.

Dispelling inner darkness, it should always be held by those who seek righteousness; / reciting it once, one quickly destroys the sin committed in a day and a night.

Reciting it at the three junctures of the day, [one destroys] that of a month; in front of Śiva, that of three months; / reciting it for a month, that of a year; reciting it for a year, that of a hundred years.

Standing before brahmins while they eat at the time of a śrāddha, / reciting this holy garland of sacred fords, one becomes an offerer of a śrāddha at Gayā.

Reciting it with faith before the gods at the time of worship, / one pleases all the gods and purifies one's entire lineage.

Thus the auspicious garland of sacred fords situated on both banks of the Revā
has been proclaimed by me, O best of sages; listen further, O sinless ones! // 230.113

Thus ends the two hundred and thirtieth chapter, entitled 'Account of the Garland of Sacred Fords', in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth, the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand verses.