Skandapurana 2.1.17

Now begins the description of the sacred field of Mount Veṅkaṭa and others.

Glorious Sūta said:

"I shall declare once again the māhātmya of Mount Veṅkaṭa

unto you with care; listen with completely focused minds.

Whatever sacred fords there are upon the earth and within the cosmic egg,

all of them exist on the mountain named Veṅkaṭa.

The Supreme Person dwelling on that best of meritorious mountains,

the auspicious God holding the conch and discus, wearing yellow garments,

whose chest is adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, the granter of fearlessness to devotees,

the God of gods, large-eyed, knowable through the Vedas, eternal—

People living in the countries of Aṅga, Kosala, Karṇāṭa, Kāśī, and Gurjara,

and those born in all regions such as Cola, Kerala, and Pāṇḍya,

come each year with their families to serve [Him];

as do the gods, seers, siddhas, and yogins such as Sanaka.

Those who perform service during the month of Bhādrapada

at the great festival of the Lord of Veṅkaṭa are all free of sins, the highest of the highest.

There, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds,

conducted the great festival of hoisting the banner in the solar month of Kanyā for the glorious Lord of Veṅkaṭa.

Every year, for the sake of serving Him, all human beings,

all the gods, gandharvas, siddhas, and sādhyas of great splendor,

arrive at the Brahmotsava festival of the Lord, O best of the twice-born.

Just as the knowledge of the Vedas is among forms of knowledge, just as the praṇava is among mantras,

just as the vital breath is among dear things, just as the wish-granting cow is among cows,

so is the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, the highest of the highest among sacred fields.

Just as Śeṣa is among all nāgas, just as Garuḍa is among birds,

just as Viṣṇu is among the gods, just as the brahmin is among the varṇas,

so is the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, the highest of the highest among sacred fields.

Just as the wish-fulfilling tree is among trees, just as a wife is among friends,

just as the Gaṅgā is among sacred fords, just as the sun is among lights,

so is the lord of mountains, Veṅkaṭa, the highest of the highest among sacred fields.

Just as the vajra is among weapons, just as gold is among metals,

just as Rudra is among Vaiṣṇavas, just as the Kaustubha is among gems,

Just so is Mount Veṅkaṭa the highest of the high among sacred fields.

There is nothing equal to it in the world that fosters Viṣṇu's delight.

There is no month equal to Mādhava, no age equal to the Kṛta,

no scripture equal to the Veda, and no sacred ford equal to the Gaṅgā.

There is no gift equal to water; there is no happiness equal to a wife;

there is no wealth equal to agriculture, and no gain higher than life.

There is no austerity other than fasting; there is no joy higher than giving.

There is no virtue equal to compassion; there is no light equal to the eye.

There is no satisfaction equal to food; there is no trade equal to agriculture.

There is no friend equal to righteousness; there is no fame equal to truth.

Just as [these excel], so there is indeed nothing equal to the abode of the Lord.

O best of sages, the praise of which removes all sins, the adoration of which grants all happiness in the world,

and pilgrimage to which is worthy of worship even by the gods—such is the greatness of Mount Veṅkaṭa, the foremost [of peaks].

I shall further tell its power, wherein all sacred fords abide;

and thus among them all, the foremost sacred ford is that lake named Śrīsvāmi[puṣkariṇī].

How can its greatness be told by me? On its western bank Bhūvarāha,

embracing his beloved, with an exceedingly gentle form, shines forth, beneficent to all people.

And on the south of the Śrīsvāmiduṣkariṇī stands Veṅkaṭeśvara,

his body embraced by Lakṣmī, granting boons eternally.

Thus has the supreme greatness of the sacred field been related to you, O brahmins.

Whoever always hears it with devotion is glorified in the world of Viṣṇu.

Thus ends the seventeenth chapter, named 'Description of the Greatness of the Sacred Field', in the Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the venerable Skanda Purāṇa in eighty-one thousand verses.