Skandapurana 2.8.11

Now begins the Ayodhyāmāhātmya, the eighth [part] in the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa. (2.8)

1. Sūta's praise of the foremost scholars such as Vyāsa for the sake of auspiciousness; the description of the Ayodhyāmāhātmya adorned with various trees, creepers, and the like in the context of the dialogue between Sūta and Śaunaka; the arrival of the sage Agasti at Ayodhyā; the description of Agastya's attainment of bliss upon seeing the power of Ayodhyā; the statement of the etymological meaning of the word 'Ayodhyā' through the description of Ayodhyā existing in the three guṇas and three forms; the description of the practice of the five fires performed by Viṣṇuśarman preceded by the dialogue between Agastya and Vyāsa in Ayodhyā; the recitation of a hymn to the Lord by Viṣṇuśarman; the vision of the Lord by Viṣṇuśarman; the granting of a boon to Viṣṇuśarman by the Lord; the bringing of a flow of water by the Lord with his own discus at that very spot; the description of that sacred ford's renown by the name Cakratīrtha; the installation of the image named Viṣṇuhari preceded by the name of Viṣṇu; the description of the māhātmya of Viṣṇuhari. 274 1

2. Brahmā's arrival at Ayodhyā; the performance of a sacrifice having undertaken the pilgrimage and other rites; the establishment of Brahmakuṇḍa in his own name; the description of the māhātmya of Brahmakuṇḍa by Lord Brahmā; the māhātmya of the Ṛṇamocanatīrtha situated on the bank of the Sarayū; the description of the māhātmya of the Pāpamocanatīrtha by Lomaśa; the description of the māhātmya of Sahasradhārā by Agastya. 276 1

3. The relation of the māhātmya of Svargadvāratīrtha by Agastya; the māhātmya of Muktidvāratīrtha; the narration of the rules for the conclusion of the Candraharivrata; the narration of the māhātmya of concluding the Candrasahasravrata. 278 1

4. The māhātmya of Dharmahari; there, the arrival of the Lord upon seeing the dance performed by Dharmarāja; the Lord's praise by Dharma; the Lord's granting of a boon to Dharmarāja; after the completion of the sacrifice named Sarvasvadakṣiṇā performed by the command of Sūrya by the king named Raghu having conquered all directions, the arrival of the seer Kautsa; the expression of his desire to go to another donor due to lack of wealth by the seer Kautsa astonished at seeing the provisions brought for his own worship; Raghu's departure with the desire to conquer Kubera in order to obtain the wealth of Kubera to give wealth to Kautsa; Kubera's shower of wealth out of fear of Raghu; the description of the donation of all the wealth by Raghu to Kautsa; the bestowing of a blessing upon King Raghu by Kautsa; Kautsa's departure to his own hermitage; the description of the māhātmya of Svarṇakhani. 279 2

5. The narration of the story of Kautsa; there, the arrival of Durvāsas to see Viśvāmitra upon hearing of his practice of austerities; the description of the rice pudding and other foods given by Viśvāmitra upon hearing the request for food made by Durvāsas; the giving of the command to Kautsa to offer a preceptor's fee consisting of one hundred and forty million pieces of gold; the description of the māhātmya of the Tilodakītīrtha. 281 1

6. The description of the māhātmya of Sītākuṇḍa; the gods' praise of the Lord when the gods were defeated by the asuras in the war between gods and asuras; the Lord's manifestation upon hearing the gods' hymn; the gods' arrival at Ayodhyā in secret according to the Lord's word; the description of the fame of that sacred ford by the name Guptahari; the māhātmya of Guptahari; the māhātmya of giving gifts at the site of Cakrahari; the māhātmya of bathing at the confluence of the rivers Sarayū and Ghargharā; the māhātmya of Gopratāratīrtha; the description of the granting of boons to the monkeys by Rāmacandra at the time of his departure to his own abode; Rāmacandra's beholding of the Sarayū on the way; the arrival of all the gods there; the gods' hymn of praise to Rāmacandra; the departure of the gods to heaven along with Rāmacandra; the māhātmya of bathing, giving gifts, and the like at the Svargadvāra and Gopratāra sacred fords. 281 2

7. The māhātmya of Kṣārodakatīrtha; there, the description of the Putrakāmeṣṭi sacrifice performed by Daśaratha to obtain sons; the māhātmya of Dhanayakṣatīrtha; the description of the yakṣa's foul-smelling limbs becoming fragrant through bathing in the Dhanayakṣatīrtha according to the word of Viśvāmitra; the description of the procedure for worshipping Nidhilakṣmī related by Viśvāmitra to the yakṣa; the māhātmya of Vasiṣṭhakuṇḍa; the māhātmya of worshipping the sixty-four yoginīs; the māhātmya of bathing in Yoginīkuṇḍa; the māhātmya of Urvaśīkuṇḍa; the praise of Āditya by King Ghoṣa; the māhātmya of Ghoṣārkakuṇḍa; the māhātmya of Rukmiṇīkuṇḍa, Bṛhaspatikuṇḍa, and Sāgarakuṇḍa. 286 1

8 The māhātmya of Ratikuṇḍa; the māhātmya of Kusumāyudhakuṇḍa; the statement of the procedure for worshipping Rati and Kandarpa; the māhātmya of Mantreśvarakṣetra; the māhātmya of Mahāratnatīrtha; the māhātmya of the tīrtha named Durbhara; the māhātmya of Mahābharatīrtha; the māhātmya of Mahāvidyātīrtha; the māhātmya of Siddhapīṭhatīrtha; the māhātmya of Dugdheśvara; the māhātmya of Hanumatkuṇḍa; the description of the māhātmya of Ayodhyā in the context of the dialogue between Vasiṣṭha and Rāma; the māhātmya of Kṣīreśvara; the māhātmya of Sītākuṇḍa; the māhātmya of Sugrīvatīrtha; the māhātmya of the lake of Vibhīṣaṇa; the description of the sequence of the rite of pilgrimage to Ayodhyā. 289 1

9 The māhātmya of Gayākūpa; the māhātmya of Piśācamocanatīrtha; the māhātmya of Māṇḍavyatīrtha; the māhātmya of Bharatakuṇḍa; the māhātmya of Mānasatīrtha; the description of the hermitage of Gautamī and others; the māhātmya of Sītākuṇḍa and Dugdheśvara; the māhātmya of Bhairavakuṇḍa; the māhātmya of Jaṭākuṇḍa... 291 1

10 The description of the māhātmya of the abode of Mattagajendra; the description of the sequence of the rite of pilgrimage to Ayodhyā; the description of Sarayū; the māhātmya of the abode of Vighneśvara; the māhātmya of the birthplace of Rāma; the fruit of hearing the Ayodhyāmāhātmya... 292 2

Thus ends the Ayodhyāmāhātmya, the eighth [subdivision] in the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa. (2.8)