Skandapurana 2.7.1

Now begins the māhātmya of the month of Vaiśākha.

Having bowed down to Nārāyaṇa, and to Nara, the foremost among men,

and to the goddess Sarasvatī, and to Vyāsa, one should then proclaim the triumph. (1)

Sūta said:

Once again the king questioned Nārada, the son born of the limbs

of Brahmā Parameṣṭhin, about the holy māhātmya of Mādhava. (1)

Ambarīṣa said:

"The māhātmya of all the months has indeed been heard

from you by me previously, O brahmin, whenever it was spoken by you then. (2)

'Vaiśākha is undoubtedly the foremost among these months'—

thus [it was said]. Therefore, there is curiosity to hear in detail the māhātmya of Mādhava, (3)

O brahmin: How is this [month] dear to Viṣṇu?

And what are the duties dear to Viṣṇu in the month beloved of Mādhava? (4)

And what duties dear to Viṣṇu are to be performed in it by a person?

What is the gift? What is its fruit? For whose sake should one observe these? (5)

With what substances should that Mādhava be worshipped at the arrival of the month of Mādhava?

O Nārada, explain this in detail to me who am endowed with faith." (6)

The venerable Nārada said:

"Formerly, Brahmā was questioned by me concerning the ancient duties of the months.

He related what was previously declared to Śrī by the Supreme Self. (7)

Then, among the months, Kārtika and Māgha were mentioned as distinguished;

among them, Mādhava made Vaiśākha the best of months. (8)

Like a mother to all living beings, it is always the granter of desires,

destroying all sins by means of gifts, sacrifices, vows, and ritual ablutions. (9)

It is the essence of religious duties and sacrificial rites, the essence of austerity, worshipped by the gods.

Just as the knowledge of the Vedas is among forms of knowledge, just as the praṇava is among mantras, (10)

just as the tree of the gods is among trees, just as the wish-yielding cow is among cows,

just as Śeṣa is among all serpents, just as Garuḍa is among birds, (11)

just as Viṣṇu is among gods, just as a brahmin is among castes,

just as the vital breath is among dear things, just as a wife is among friends, (12)

just as the Gaṅgā is among rivers, just as the sun is among lights,

just as the discus is among weapons, just as gold is among metals, (13)

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

so also is Vaiśākha the best among the months that cause religious merit. (14)

There is nothing equal to it in the world that brings about the delight of Viṣṇu.

When the sun is in Aries, toward one engaged in ritual ablution in Vaiśākha before the rising of the sun, (15)

the Lord accompanied by Lakṣmī shows abundant affection.

Just as the satisfaction of living beings is indeed produced by food alone, (16)

in the same way, Viṣṇu is undoubtedly pleased by ritual ablution in Vaiśākha.

Seeing people devoted to ritual ablution in Vaiśākha, he rejoices; (17)

by that alone, freed from sins, one is glorified in the world of Viṣṇu.

Having bathed even once in the morning when the sun is in Aries and having performed the daily rites, (18)

freed from great sins, that person attains liberation by merging into Viṣṇu.

If one takes even a single step for the sake of ritual ablution in the month of Vaiśākha, (19)

he undoubtedly attains the fruit of ten thousand horse sacrifices.

Even if one with a deceitful mind merely forms the mental resolve [to bathe], (20)

even he certainly obtains the religious merit of a hundred sacrifices; there is no doubt.

Whoever walks the length of a bow to bathe while the sun is in Aries

is freed from all bonds and attains intimate union with Viṣṇu.

Whatever sacred fords there are in the three worlds and within the cosmic egg,

all of them, O king of kings, are present in any outdoor puddle of water.

Recorded sins roar in the judgment hall of Yama

only until a creature performs a ritual ablution in water in the month of Vaiśākha.

All the deities presiding over sacred fords, O king,

resort to outdoor water and remain present at all times, O king.

Beginning with sunrise, up to the end of six ghaṭikās,

they remain by order of Viṣṇu, desiring the welfare of men.

To men who have not arrived by that time, they utter a terrible curse

and return to their own abodes, O king of kings; therefore one should perform a ritual ablution.

Thus ends the first chapter, named 'The Description of the Māhātmya of Vaiśākha Ablution, Preceded by the Praise of the Month of Vaiśākha', in the dialogue between Nārada and Ambarīṣa, in the Vaiśākhamāsamāhātmya of the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand verses.