Skandapurana 1.4.56: adhyāyaḥ 58

Arjuna said:

Why is this a hidden sacred field, and for what reason is it hidden, O Nārada,

whose majesty is so great, yet not praised by anyone? (1)

Nārada said:

Regarding the cause of the hidden sacred field, an ancient story—

hear, O Pāṇḍava, how it became hidden on account of a curse. (2)

Long ago, on a certain occasion, the presiding deities of all sacred fords

went together to the assembly of Brahmā to pay homage to Brahmā: (3)

the deities of Puṣkara, Prabhāsa, Nimiṣa, Arbuda,

the field of Kurukṣetra, and Dharmāraṇya; (4)

those of Vastrāpatha, Śveta, and the Phalgu sacred ford;

those of Kedāra, and of other sacred fields by the millions; (5)

the lords of the confluence of the Indus and the ocean, and of Mahīsāgara,

the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean, and of Sūkara; (6)

and the presiding deities of rivers headed by the Gaṅgā and the Revā;

and the presiding deities of pools, with the Śoṇa pool at their head. (7)

They all, gathering in groups in order to know their own pre-eminence,

came, pure, to the great assembly of Brahmā. (8)

Seeing all the sacred fords arrived there,

the Grandfather rose up together with all the members of the assembly. (9)

Having bowed to all the sacred fords with folded hands,

the Lord spoke to the sacred fords, his eyes wide with wonder: (10)

"Today our entire abode has been exceedingly sanctified by you,

and we too have been doubly sanctified merely by the sight of you. (11)

Beholding the sacred fords, touching them, and indeed bathing in them,

praising them, and remembering them also—there is no higher merit than this. (12)

Even those who are burdened with grave sins, fierce and most cruel,

even they are thoroughly purified by the sacred fords; how much more so those established in righteousness!" (13)

Having spoken thus, he instructed his son Pulastya:

"Quickly bring guest-offering for the sake of the sacred fords, so that I may worship [them]." (14)

Pulastya said:

"Innumerable sacred fords are seen here, O lotus-born one.

As you command me, father, I shall bring a single guest-offering, (15)

since this verse is sung in the exposition of righteousness: (16)

'If in worship there are innumerable ones worthy of a guest-offering,

then the guest-offering is indeed to be given to the foremost of them, as one.'" (17)

Brahmā said:

"Well spoken, my child! This word has been uttered by you with deep meaning.

Do so: bring quickly a single guest-offering." (18)

Nārada said:

Then Pulastya swiftly brought an excellent guest-offering.

Taking it in his hand, Brahmā spoke these words to the sacred fords: (19)

"Let one who is foremost be declared by all of you together,

and to that one I shall offer the guest-offering; thus impropriety will not touch me." (20)

The sacred fords said:

"We do not know each other's superiority in any way.

And for this reason we have come; knowing it yourself, bestow it!" (21)

Brahmā said:

"I do not know your superiority in any way; obeisance be unto you!

You ought all to tell me of your own boundless majesty. (22)

Where there are Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kāśī, Puṣkara, and Naimiṣa,

Kurukṣetra, and likewise Revā, the confluence of Mahīsāgara, (23)

and hundreds beginning with Prabhāsa—what judgment could be ours?" (24)

Nārada said:

When this was spoken by the lotus-born one, no one said anything.

Then, after a long time, the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean spoke this:

"Quickly grant this guest-offering to me, O four-faced one [Brahmā]!

For no one can equal even a ten-millionth fraction of me! / 26

Because when the earth was scorched by King Indradyumna,

she was liquefied by all the sacred fords and became the river named Mahī. / 27

And she, joined with all the sacred fords, is united with me;

therefore, throughout the three worlds, I am renowned as consisting of all sacred fords. / 28

Moreover, after establishing the great liṅga Īśvara Kumāreśvara,

the primacy among sacred fords was granted to me by the great-souled Guha. / 29

Nārada too, having established a splendid seat on my bank,

formerly granted me pre-eminence over all sacred fields. / 1.2.58.30

Thus, because of these three excellent reasons, let the guest-offering be given to me alone.

No other sacred ford is equal to me, even in a fraction of my virtues!" / 31

When this speech had been spoken by the king of sacred fords, O son of Pṛthā [Arjuna], O Bhārata,

no one said anything at all, wondering what Brahmā would say. / 32

Then the eldest son of Brahmā, adorned with a white garland and white sandal-paste,

raising his right arm, Dharma, spoke these words: / 33

"Ah, alas, this was ill-spoken out of delusion by the king of sacred fords!

For even when they exist, one's own virtues should never be spoken by the virtuous themselves. / 34

He who himself speaks of his own virtues, casting down others in [their] prosperity,

this is indeed a contemptible egoism born of passion. / 35

Therefore, because of this egoism, even though these virtues do exist,

this sacred ford will become unrenowned and ruined in form. / 36

It will be known as Stambhatīrtha, because arrogance (stambha) was displayed [here].

For even Brahmā immediately incurred the fruit of arrogance; how much more another?" / 37

When this was spoken by the god Dharma, a cry of "Alas, alas!" arose.

Then, O son of Pāṇḍu, both the lord of yogins [Guha] and I arrived swiftly. / 38

Then Guha spoke words in the assembly of the god Dharma:

"This is improper, O Dharma, that this curse has been given out of rashness! / 39

Let anyone among all the sacred fords present there speak,

if this confluence of the Mahī and the ocean does not deserve sovereignty! / 1.2.58.40

Let alone his own virtue which was described by the king of sacred fords;

what flaw is there in that, since the virtue was spoken truly? / 41

Ah, it is not fitting for guardians if even they, without deliberating,

decide matters in this way! To whom will the subjects turn for refuge?" / 42

When Guha had spoken thus, Dharma then said:

"It is true that this confluence of the Mahī and the ocean is worthy / 43

of primacy among all sacred fords and also of the guest-offering from the Grandfather [Brahmā].

Yet one's own virtues should not be spoken; this is the eternal vow of the virtuous.

Self-praise, even when said behind one's back, would cause even Brahmā to fall. / 44

Did not Yayāti of old, uttering self-praise

accompanied by censuring others, fall from heaven to the earth?

The standards that were established of old by the wise Īśa— / 45

those must be maintained; what wise person would transgress them?

We, who were established by your father by his command for this purpose, / 46

have maintained this, and you also ought to uphold it.

If you lords act by your own authority, / 47

then let this supreme ordinance be directed by us!"

Having said this, as he was about to cast aside his bull, / 48

I, seeing the occasion, spoke these words:

"Obeisance to great Dharma, the supporter of the universe, the great-souled one, / 49

who is constantly worshipped by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, the destroyer of sin!

If you, O Dharma, should ever abandon your seal [of authority], / 1.2.58.50

then whence would our existence be? Do not destroy the universe, O Lord!

You also ought to show honour to Guha, the lord of yogins; / 51

for he is to be respected just like Śiva, being manifestly Śiva's son.

And the divine lord Guha ought to show honour to you. / 52

Through the unity of you two, this world may live happily.

Let not this curse that you have given result in total rejection. / 53

And grant grace to the king of sacred fords, O giver of honour!" / 54

Praising me as I spoke thus, the lotus-born [Brahmā] also said:

"Well said is this by Nārada. O Dharma, obey this word!

Honor Guha as well, for Guha is indeed our lord."

When this was spoken by Brahmā, Dharma uttered these words:

"Homage to Guha, the perfected one! We are your servants.

O lord Skanda, consider this request of mine:

Because of the pillar (stambha), this great sacred ford shall become obscure;

it shall become very famous, known as Stambhatīrtha;

known as Stambhatīrtha, bestowing the fruit of all sacred fords.

And whatever man shall perform ablutions and gifts here,

all the fruit described for him shall be evident.

Whatever fruit there may be of a new-moon day falling on a Saturday,

know that that very fruit will be gained in a pilgrimage to the Mahīsāgara.

Whatever fruit would arise from ten pilgrimages to Prabhāsa, seven to Puṣkara,

and eight to Prayāga;

whatever fruit [arises] from five [pilgrimages] to Kurukṣetra and three to Nakulīśa,

and whatever from six to Arbuda;

whatever from three to Vastrāpatha and five to the Gaṅgā;

whatever fruit would arise from four to Kūpodarī;

and whatever would be [gained] from six to Kāśī, and five to the Godāvarī—

that very fruit shall indeed be at Stambhatīrtha on a Saturday new-moon day."

When the boon was thus granted, Skanda then became pleased in mind.

Brahmā also, being concentrated in mind, offered arghya to Stambhatīrtha,

and he of immeasurable splendor granted it pre-eminence over all sacred fords.

And having honored the sacred fords and lord Guha, he departed.

Such was this event of old, the cause of the hidden sacred field.

And again, for the sake of its fame, apsarases were sent here by me;

and they were freed by you from the form of crocodiles, O best of Kurus!

For since all dharma operates in manifold forms,

your and Kṛṣṇa's birth exists in every age for its protection.

Thus this great fruit of all the sacred fords has been described to you.

Having heard this completely from the beginning, a man is released from sins.

Sūta said:

Having heard this, the wise Arjuna praised [it], greatly astonished;

and, dismissed by Nārada and the others, he departed toward Dvārakā.

Thus ends the fifty-eighth chapter, named 'Description of the Conclusion of Arjuna's Pilgrimage' in the description of the Mahīsāgara-māhātmya, in the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa, in the first section, the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.