Skandapurana 1.4.67: adhyāyaḥ 3

Sūta said: / "'Observing such sacred places wherever they are here on earth, / I, Nārada, O best of heroes, 3.1

wandering over the whole earth, arrived at the hermitage of Bhṛgu, / where the holy river Revā flows, excellent, remembering seven aeons, 3.2

greatly meritorious, pure, containing all sacred fords, auspicious. / It purifies by mere recitation of its name, and especially by sight. 3.3

From plunging into it, O son of Pṛthā, a living creature is freed from sin. / Just as that channel called Piṅgalā is situated within the body, 3.4

so this one is celebrated in that place of the cosmic egg. / There on the Revā lies the sin-destroying sacred ford called Śuklatīrtha, 3.5

where, by mere bathing, the sin of killing a brahmin is destroyed. / Near that as well, O son of Pṛthā, on the northern bank of the Revā, 3.6

abounding in various trees, adorned with creepers and shrubs, / endowed with various flowers and fruits, adorned with groves of plantains, 3.7

crowded with many wild beasts, resounding with birds, / rich in the beauty of fragrant flowers, echoing with the calls of peacocks, 3.8

clinging with buzzing sounds, leaving everything else behind, by bees— / just as worldly existence is abandoned by a devotee at the feet of Hara— 3.9

where cuckoos make the sages resound with their sweet cries, / just as brahmins cause those afraid of worldly existence to resound with nectar-like discourses and narratives, 3.10

where the trees gladden the people with fruits, flowers, and leaves, / as well as shade and timber, like those devoted to Hara, 3.11

where birds affectionate to their offspring cry 'Son, son!', / just as Śaivas devoted to Śiva continually cry 'Śiva, Śiva!', 3.12

such was the circle of the hermitage of that sage Bhṛgu, / adorned on all sides by brahmins endowed with the three Vedas, 3.13

filling the quarters of the sky with the resonant chanting of Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāman, / just as the three worlds are filled by a steadfast devotee of Rudra. 3.14

There I arrived, O son of Pṛthā, where the best of sages dwells, / Bhṛgu, supreme in righteousness, his splendor illuminated by austerity. 3.15

Seeing me arriving, both distressed and joyful, / all the brahmins led by Bhṛgu rose up in respect. 3.16

Having offered a gracious welcome and given water offerings and the rest along with Bhṛgu, / those foremost sages were seated on seats provided by me. 3.17

Knowing that I was rested, Bhṛgu then spoke to me: / 'Where are you going, O best of sages? Why have you come here? 3.18

Explain clearly the entire reason for your coming.' / Then, filled with thought, O son of Pṛthā, I said to Bhṛgu: 3.19

'Listen, I shall declare the purpose for which I have come. / The entire earth bounded by the oceans has been traversed by me. 3.20

seeking at every step to make a gift of land to brahmins, / [a land] faultless, pure, and endowed even among sacred fords.

I do not see anywhere a charming and pleasing land."
Bhṛgu said:
"Formerly, while wandering about to establish brahmins,

the whole earth bounded by the ocean was seen by me, O sinless one. / There is an auspicious, holy river named Mahī, embodying all sacred fords,

divine, pleasing, gentle, destroying great sins. / In the form of a river, the earth herself is there without doubt.

Whatever sacred fords there are on the earth, visible and invisible, O Nārada, / all of them dwell right there in the waters of the Mahī.

That great river of holy water joined the ocean; / there, O divine seer, the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean was formed.

The sacred ford there called Stambha is famed throughout the three worlds. / The wise men who take a ritual ablution there,

completely freed from all sins, indeed do not approach Yama. / For a wonder was seen there by me in the past, having gone to bathe.

I shall recount that great wonder to you, O sage; listen! / As I was going to bathe at this confluence of the Mahī and the ocean,

I saw an eminent sage resembling fire standing on the bank, / tall, old, reduced to mere bones, adorned with the splendor of austerity,

raising both his arms and weeping repeatedly. / Seeing him so afflicted, I then became distressed.

For this is the mark of the virtuous: seeing a person who is afflicted, / his [affliction] becomes a hundredfold; likewise, I lamented.

Non-violence, truth, non-stealing—these are difficult to attain in human existence. / Then, approaching him, I questioned him at that time:

"Why are you weeping, O sage? What is the cause of your sorrow? / Even if it is a great secret, speak, for my curiosity is great."

The sage then said to me, "O Bhṛgu, I am unfortunate; / therefore I weep. Do not ask me, for who would speak of his misfortune?"

Filled with astonishment, I spoke to him yet again: / "Birth in Bhārata is hard to attain, and even there, human state is hard to attain.

Among humans, the state of a brahmin is rare, and the state of a sage is rare therein; / even there, accomplishment in austerity is rare. Having attained these supreme five,

why are you weeping, O sage? There is great amazement in me regarding this." / As I was questioning him in this manner, in that very interval,

a sage named Subhadra came there. / Having abandoned Mount Meru upon knowing the essential worth of the sacred ford,

having established a hermitage, that sage perpetually worships Stambheśvara. / He too asked the weeping sage about the cause of his weeping, just as I did.

Then, having sipped water, that sage said: "Listen to the reason, O two sages! / I am indeed a sage named Devaśarman, with restrained speech and mind.

I dwell, having made my abode, at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean. / There, on every new-moon day, I always offer libations to the ancestors.

At the end of the ancestral rite, they appear visibly and utter blessings to me. / Then, one day, the ancestors, being delighted, said to me:

'We always come here into your presence, O Devaśarman; / why, O son, do you never come to our abode?'

Desiring to see that place, I was not able to comprehend it. / Then, saying 'Very well,' I went along with the ancestors

to the holy abode of the ancestors situated in the terrestrial world. / Standing here and there, seeing [beings] in front who were difficult to look upon due to a circle of light,

and richly honored with worship, I asked my ancestors: / 'Who are these arriving, extremely satisfied, greatly worshipped, / and exceedingly rejoiced, unlike you who are not so as these are?'

The ancestors said: / 'May all be well with you! These are the holy ancestors of the great sage Subhadra. / They were offered libations by that sage at the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean,

where the Mahī, which embodies all sacred fords, merges into the ocean. / There, on the new-moon day, Subhadra offers libations to them, O son.'

Hearing their words, I was then greatly ashamed / and astonished. Having bowed to those ancestors, I returned to my own place.

Somehow I resolved: 'I will certainly go there, / where the holy confluence of the Mahī and the ocean is celebrated.

Having established a hermitage right there, I will offer libations to my own ancestors / on each new-moon day, just like that Subhadra of praiseworthy name.

What is the use of the birth of that sinner, a coal to his lineage, / while living, his own ancestors long for someone else?'

Reflecting thus, I said with delight to my wife Ruci: / 'O Ruci, accompanied by you to the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean,

having gone, I shall dwell right there; quickly prepare yourself! / You are devoted to your husband, pure, noble-born, and renowned; / therefore, O auspicious woman, you ought to carry out this plan of mine.'

Ruci said: / 'Why was the birth of that wicked soul not destroyed, O sinner,

O pillar of the cremation ground, by whom I was given to you, like [an offering to] Yama? / With the diet of roots and fruits here, what is not satisfied?

You wish to take me there, where there is constantly salt water! / You go there alone; let your ancestors rejoice!

Go, or stay, O old man, or live for a long time like a crow!' / While she was speaking thus, having covered my ears,

having instructed my disciple Vipula regarding the house, I came here alone. / Having bathed here and offered libations to the ancestors with devotion,

I fell into very deep anxiety, like an evil-doer in hell. / If I remain right here, I possess only half a body.

For a man destitute of a wife is remembered as having half a body. / Just as in the body no action succeeds without the self,

the fruit is to be obtained from both of them; there is no substance here without it. / And a man with only half a body is considered untouchable by the virtuous.

Indeed, the fruit of both must be taken; there is no essential difference here.
And a man of half a body is considered untouchable by the virtuous.

Auttānapādi, though untouchable, was made foremost by the gods.
Now if I go there, Mahīsāgara will not be [visited] from there.

Or how shall I go? In what way can my feet move at all?
Pierced by this, my mind grieves in this crisis of ignorance.

Therefore I am utterly bewildered, I grieve exceedingly, I weep.'
Hearing his words, my hair was thrilled with goosebumps.

Then Subhadra as well as I said to him, 'Well done, well done!'
And having bowed down like a staff to the confluence of the Mahī and the ocean,

We both pondered in our minds a remedy for the sage.
'For that person who, having attained human birth, which is fleeting like a water bubble,

Exists for the sake of others, is truly a man; others are merely excrement.'
Then, having reflected thus, Subhadra said this to the best of sages:

'Do not grieve, O sage Devaśarman; be firm.
I shall dispel your sorrow just as the sun [dispels] darkness.

I shall go to the hermitage, and you will not suffer neglect here either.
Hear the reason for that: I shall offer satiation to the ancestors for you.'

Devaśarman said:
'May your life endure for a hundred years as you speak thus,
Since you wish to perform a great deed, impossible [for others], for my sake.

Yet in this occasion for joy, dejection troubles me once again; hear [why]:
Even auspicious words the good do not accept in vain, O sage.

Tell me, how can I have this great deed done for nothing?
I shall say something further so that an expiation may be mine.

You are bound by oath by my life-breaths: act as I tell you.
I shall always perform [offerings] intended for the ancestors on the new moon.

Perform the funeral rite here at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean for my ancestors,
And I shall indeed bestow a fourth part of the austerity accumulated over a lifetime.
Carry it out in this very manner.'

Subhadra said:
'If such is your satisfaction, O lord of sages, let it be so.
For one who knows should act in such a way that the good rejoice.'

Bhṛgu said:
Then, delighted, having pledged the religious merit thrice verbally,
Devaśarman gave a fourth share and departed to his abode; Subhadra too remained there.

Such, O Nārada, is that confluence of the Mahī and the ocean,
Remembering which my hair stands on end even today.

Nārada said:
Hearing this, O Phālguna, with a voice choked with joy,
As if a dead man had come back to life, I said to that Bhṛgu: 'Well done, well done!

You and we shall go to the extremely beautiful bank of the Mahī;
Let the two of us look upon that entire unsurpassed place.'

And hearing my words, Bhṛgu went together with me;
The entire greatly holy bank of the Mahī was viewed.

Beholding it, I was exceedingly delighted, my coat of hair standing on end;
With a voice choked with joy, I spoke to the tiger among sages:

'By your favor, O Bhṛgu, I shall make an unsurpassed place.
Go to your own abode, O brahmin; henceforth I shall contemplate what is to be done.'

Having thus dismissed Bhṛgu, on the bank charming with the uproar of billows,
Then sitting down, like a solitary yogin within his own self, I reflected: 'What is to be done?'

Thus ends the third chapter, named 'The Glorification of the Mahīsāgarasaṅgama Ford' in the dialogue between Nārada and Arjuna, in the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa of the first section, the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a compendium of eighty-one thousand [verses].