Skandapurana 1.4.51: adhyāyaḥ 53

Nārada said:

Now I shall describe another excellent [topic], the supreme māhātmya of the hall.

Formerly, when the place was established, I was addressed by the eminent twice-born:

'For the protection of this place, O you of noble vows, devise an expedient!'

Then a vow was made by me: 'I will ensure the protection of the place.'

Afterwards, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara were worshipped by me,

The three indeed, with single-minded focus; then the foremost gods were pleased.

Approaching, they then said to me: 'O Nārada, choose a boon!'

Having honoured them, I said: 'Let the protection of the place be carried out!

Just this boon is to be granted to me by the well-pleased gods,

So that there may be no loss of the place, and so that my renown will endure.'

'So be it!' Thus a promise was made then by the lords of gods, O sage:

'By our own portions we will protect your twice-born.'

Having spoken thus, a portion was released by the gods, the three persons themselves;

Then all the foremost gods vanished.

Then, together with the twice-born, in front of the hall, for the protection of the place,

The three separate gods, the lords of the three worlds, were installed by me.

Whenever the brahmins are oppressed by anyone,

Having recited the Ṛgveda in the forenoon and the Yajurveda at midday,

And the Sāmans in a high pitch in the third watch,

Whomever they, deeply angered, curse in front of the hall,

He will be reduced to ashes within seven days, within a year, or within three years:

'If the protection of this place was promised by you before Nārada,

By that truth let our enemy be reduced to ashes in an instant!'

By this curse-mantra he is surely reduced to ashes.

Whoever beholds daily that hall of the Three Persons there,

And worships and propitiates [them], is glorified in the heavenly world.

Thus ends the māhātmya of the hall of the Three Persons.

Nārada said:

Now I shall proclaim another great [matter]: of my lake

The matchless māhātmya, O son of Pṛthā, difficult even for the gods to attain.

Formerly, a lake was dug by me with a needle made of a darbhā sprout.

Then the earth was personally carried out with a copper vessel.

Having fetched the excellent water of all sacred fords,

It was poured there into the lake; by that, the lake was filled.

When the month of Āśvina arrives, a pure man, on a Sunday,

Who bathes there and performs a śrāddha, especially giving gifts,

His ancestors are satisfied until the dissolution of all beings.

This lake belonging to Nārada is renowned on the surface of the earth;

Even by the gods it is attained only through a great accumulation of merit.

Whatever gift is given here, and whatever is offered into the fire,

One should know all that to be imperishable through recitation, fasting, and spiritual practice.

Having bathed in this best of lakes belonging to Nārada, whichever mortal

Worships Nāradeśvara with faith, is freed from all sins.

At this sacred ford formerly, O son of Pṛthā, austerity was performed by all the Nāgas

For release from the curse of Kadrū, wishing for their own welfare.

Then they attained supreme perfection through the power of this sacred ford;

Then they installed the powerful liṅga, Nāgeśvara,

To the north of Nārada's [lake], all the Nāgas greatly delighted.

Whoever, having bathed in the best lake belonging to Nārada, worships Hara—

[and] Nāgeśvara with great devotion, his merit is endless.

They have no fear of snakes, according to the word of the serpents. // 25

Thus ends the māhātmya of Nārada’s lake.

Nārada said:

O Pāṇḍava, here also is the goddess named Aparadvārakā. // 26

And she has her dwelling established always at the door of the cosmic egg,

guarded by two hundred and forty million goddesses. // 27

Then, having performed long austerity, having propitiated her, she was brought here by me;

and the supreme goddess was established at the western gate. // 28

At the eastern gate of the city, Dvāravāsinī was established.

Whatever ninth lunar day there may be in the dark fortnight of the month of Caitra, // 29

a man having bathed in the pool should worship that goddess

with animal offerings, bakula flowers, food oblations, and acts of worship including fragrant pastes and incense. // 30

Sin committed across seven births meets destruction that very moment;

whatever desires a man prays for, he obtains every one of them. // 31

And a barren woman obtains a son merely by bathing there

on the ninth day of the month of Caitra, through worship with flowers, incense, and water offerings. // 32

The goddess destroys obstacles [and] bestows every perfection

on her devotees in that very instant; this is the truth, there is no doubt. // 33

And a man having worshipped Uttaradvārakā as well according to rule,

that best of men would obtain this very same fruit. // 34

And as for the goddess Dvāravāsinī, who is stationed at the eastern gate,

merely by worshipping her one would obtain the desired fruit. // 35

When the month of Āśvina has arrived, especially during the Navarātra,

having fasted for the Navarātra and having bathed in the pool with concentration, // 36

one should worship the deity with devotion, through offerings of flowers, incense, food, and water libations.

One without sons obtains sons; one without wealth obtains wealth; // 37

a barren woman gives birth, O son of Pṛthā; no hesitation should be felt in this regard. // 38

Thus ends the fifty-third chapter, entitled “Description of the Māhātmya of Koṭitīrtha and Other Places,” in the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa of the first section, the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the Skanda Mahāpurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses.