Skandapurana 2.1.29

The seers said:

The greatness of all the sacred fords here has been told by you,

as well as of the rivers, mountains, sacred fields, and lakes.

By command of Brahmā, the Suvarṇamukharī river,

brought to earth by Agastya, has been recounted by you, O sinless one.

Delight has arisen in us to hear its origin and power,

and the multitude of sacred fords connected to it; therefore you ought to tell it to us.

Having bowed to Śambhu, Nandīśa, the six-faced one, and Vyāsa,

the Sūta, requested by the sages, then began to speak.

Śrī Sūta said:

It is well asked by you, O fortunate ones, bringing auspiciousness—

this narrative, which grants the attainment born from hearing sacred tradition.

Listen attentively to the divine tale that destroys impurities;

I shall tell you what Bharadvāja told to Arjuna.

Having obtained Draupadī from the wise Drupada, the sons of Pṛthā,

at the command of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, went to auspicious Hastināpura.

Honored there at that time by Bhīṣma and the son of Ambikā,

they lived together with Duryodhana and the others for five years.

Then the highly renowned Dhṛtarāṣṭra, instructed by Bhīṣma and the rest,

in the presence of all the elders of the lineage and Vāsudeva,

his heart delighted by their service, gave to the sons of Pāṇḍu

half the kingdom, including the excellent city named Khāṇḍavaprastha.

Taking leave of the Kurus headed by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the sons of Pāṇḍu

went to that city of Khāṇḍavaprastha accompanied by Kṛṣṇa.

Dwelling in that city called Indraprastha, protected by Viśvakarman,

Yudhiṣṭhira, along with his younger brothers, ruled the earth.

When Kṛṣṇa had departed to his own city, by the instruction of Nārada,

the sons of Pṛthā, who knew righteousness, made a mutual pledge concerning Draupadī:

Now begins the introduction to Arjuna's pilgrimage to sacred fords:

In regular order, that Draupadī, with respect,

should stay in the house of each one for one year, according to a mutual agreement.

Whoever should see her while she stays in another's house,

must observe resort to sacred fords for the period of one year.

Having made such a pledge, those sons of King Pāṇḍu,

untiring, passed the time in ordinary worldly affairs.

Then a rural brahmin, standing in the courtyard of the royal palace,

cried out repeatedly: 'My cow has been stolen by thieves!'

Having comforted that brahmin, Arjuna entered

the armory in haste to fetch weapons.

There he saw Draupadī and Yudhiṣṭhira seated together;

even knowing the pledge, he took up his bow together with quivers.

Having gone and slain the thieves in battle, that prince,

having recovered the cow, respectfully returned it to that brahmin.

Then Arjuna represented to Yudhiṣṭhira:

'A pilgrimage to sacred fords must be undertaken by me because of the violation of the agreement.'

Hearing the words of his younger brother, the best among all knowers of righteousness,

the steadfast Yudhiṣṭhira said these words respectfully:

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

An untrue word that one speaks for the sake of a cow or for a brahmin,

or an improper deed that one performs, is truth; it is right.

Such an act was done by you for the sake of a brahmin and for a cow;

how could that take on the nature of wrongdoing? Tell me, O you of noble vows!

In the duty of protecting subjects, through neglecting or punishing thieves,

surely the fruit for a king is that of brahmin-slaughter or of an Aśvamedha.

Even knowing enemies are incurable, a king does not attain fortune

if thieves who cause devastation in his country are left unpunished.

For what was beneficial to us, to kings, and to the mass of the people—

such was the deed done by you; there is indeed no fault in you for this.”

Śrī Sūta said:

Having heard the words of Dharmaputra, with folded hands

Dhanañjaya, ever devoted to righteousness, spoke again:

Arjuna said:

“O king, do not speak thus, violating your own vow,

when you know the essence of righteousness, being the radiant embodiment of righteousness.

A pledge spoken before by oneself who knows what ought and ought not to be done, who is capable—

that vow must never be broken by a man.

That is the resort of the weak: that on the word of kinsmen or teachers

they abandon righteousness, abandoning the compact previously uttered by themselves.

If the noble one should turn [me] back from going to sacred fords out of pity,

who would stop the people who prate of me as one who has broken his vow?

Moreover, my mind is eager with longing for the pilgrimage to sacred fords,

and the command ordained by Nārada has been remembered as duty, O king.

Therefore be gracious, O great king, in this undertaking to go to sacred fords;

for the compact of dependents ought to be respected by lords.”

Saying ‘So be it,’ Arjuna, having obtained permission together with his brothers,

gratified his elder brother with salutations, humble deference, and the like.

Having taken leave of his brothers, Bhīmasena and the rest, as was fitting, the Pāṇḍava,

with rites for auspiciousness performed by worthy brahmins, departed.

Reciters of Purāṇas, astrologers, physicians, brahmins,

hosts of servants, artisans, bards, and panegyrists followed [him].

By order of Yudhiṣṭhira, taking wealth sufficient for enjoyment and charity,

affectionate courtiers and treasury officers accompanied [him].

Now Arjuna’s arrival at Suvarṇamukharī after bathing in the Gaṅgā and other sacred fords:

First reaching the river Bhāgīrathī, that prince

served Gaṅgādvāra, Prayāga, and Kāśī as well.

Viewing the sacred fords of the Jāhnavī along the road bordering its banks,

he reached the southern ocean with its towering billows.

Having beheld the great, highly auspicious Mahānadī, the renowned Puruṣottama,

and Siṃhācala, he attained the fulfillment of his purpose.

Then the son of Kuntī saw the sacred Godāvarī river,

whose majesty rises transcendent by destroying the multitude of all sins.

Having bathed according to rule in its waters, the son of Pāṇḍu

made gladness with diverse gifts of land and gold.

And seeing the river named Malāpahā, he experienced auspicious joy;

then he reached the Kṛṣṇaveṇī, the best of rivers.

He beheld Śrīparvata, the perpetual abode of Śiva,

endowed with four gates and crowded with various assemblies of sacred fords.

Crossing the river Pinākinī, having gone on, he saw Mount Veṅkaṭa,

served by divine seers and the cherished abode of Nārāyaṇa.

Hari, the sole lord of the world, residing on the high peak of this mountain,

the renowned one, he worshipped with devotion for the attainment of good fortune.

Descending from the lofty peak of Mount Veṅkaṭa, he saw the river named Suvarṇamukharī,

frequented by assemblies of perfected beings and sages, brought down by the pot-born sage.

Thus ends the twenty-ninth chapter, named ‘Description of Arjuna’s Departure on Pilgrimage to Sacred Fords’ in the Suvarṇamukharīmāhātmya of the Śrī Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya, in the second [book], the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.