Skandapurana 2.5.1: adhyāyaḥ 1

Homage to the holy Gaṇeśa.

Now begins the Māhātmya of the Month of Mārgaśīrṣa.

Sūta said:

To Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, who brings joy to the universe,

who grants enjoyment and liberation, Mādhava, compassionate to his devotees, I bow. (1)

To the God of gods seated comfortably on Śvetadvīpa, the lord of Ramā,

the four-faced one [Brahmā] bowed and then questioned his father: (2)

Brahmā said:

"O Hṛṣīkeśa, upholder of the universe, whose praise and renown bring merit,

declare what is asked, O Lord of gods, omniscient Lord of all! (3)

You formerly said, 'Among months I am Mārgaśīrṣa.'

I desire to know the greatness (māhātmya) of that month in truth. (4)

Who is its deity? What is the gift? How is the ritual ablution, and what is the rule?

What must be done there by men, and what must be eaten, O lord of Ramā? (5)

What is to be recited, and what worship, meditation, mantras, and so forth [are prescribed]?

Whatever rite is performed there, tell all of that to me, O Acyuta!" (6)

The Blessed One said:

"Well asked by you, O Brahmā, benefactor of all worlds!

When it is observed, all sacrificial rites, public works, and the like are accomplished. (7)

Whatever merit there is in all sacrifices, whatever fruit in all sacred fords (tīrthas),

that fruit one fully obtains when [the vow is] performed in Mārgaśīrṣa, O son. (8)

Whatever reward a person gains through gifts such as the tulāpuruṣa,

that reward, my son, is truly obtained merely by hearing this māhātmya. (9)

Not by sacrifices, study, gifts, and the like, nor by baths in all the tīrthas,

nor by renunciation and yoga have I become subject to men (2.5.1.10)

as I am won over in the month of Mārgaśira through ritual ablution, giving, worship, / meditation, silence, recitation of mantras, and similar acts;

I am not won so in other [months]—this is a secret that has been declared." (11)

The gods residing in heaven, having made [other vows] with other duties and the like,

kept Mārgaśīrṣa hidden, knowing it to be the cause of attaining Me. // 12

Whatever people of meritorious deeds are devoted to My bhakti,

by them Mārgaśīrṣa, which bestows Me, must certainly be observed. // 13

Those men in the courtyard of Bhārata who do not observe Mārgaśīrṣa

should be known as embodiment of sin, deluded by the age of Kali. // 14

Whatever fruit a man obtains even in eight months,

that fruit is attained, O child, in Māgha when the sun enters Makara. // 15

A hundred times the merit of Māgha is obtained in the month of Vaiśākha;

a thousand times that when the sun is in Tulā; // 16

ten million times that merit when the sun is in Vṛścika;

Mārgaśīrṣa is greater than that and is ever dear to Me. // 17

Whatever mortal, rising at dawn, performs ritual ablution according to the rule,

I, being pleased, give even Myself to him, O little son. // 18

Here too they cite this narrative; listen, O son:

There was a great-souled [cowherd] renowned on earth as Nandagopa. // 19

In his delightful Gokula there were cowherd maidens by the thousands;

their minds were attached to My form in ancient times, O sinless one. // 20

The resolve to bathe in Mārgaśīrṣa was given to them by Me.

Then the ritual ablution was performed by them in the morning according to rule; // 21

worship was offered, sacrificial food was eaten, and obeisance was paid by them.

By the rite performed in this way, I became pleased then, O sinless one; // 22

indeed, having been pleased, the boon of My own self was given to them by Me.

Therefore, Mārgaśīrṣa should indeed be observed by men according to the rule. // 23

Thus ends the first chapter, named 'The Description of the Fruit of the Mārgaśīrṣa Ablution Performed by the Gopīs,' in the Mārgaśīrṣamāhātmya, in the dialogue between Brahmā and Viṣṇu, in the second [book], the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses. // 1