Skandapurana 5.83

Sūta said:
“There occurred a wonder there formerly, which, O best of brahmins,
I will proclaim to you as it has been related in the Purāṇa.

Formerly there was a king named Veṇu, born in the Solar race,
always associated with sin, foolish, and tormented by lust.

Charters granted to great-souled brahmins
by other tiger-like monarchs were completely confiscated by him.

Many women were violated, especially widows,
beautiful maidens, and even those born in his own family.

He did not at all permit the worship and adoration of the deities to be performed,
nor sacrifice, nor oblations, nor Vedic recitation—that evildoer.

Then he proclaimed to all the people: ‘Always worship me!
There is no one else greater than me, whether a god or a brahmin.

When I am pleased, whatever is in the heart of all people
shall be accomplished in these worlds, without doubt, whether auspicious or inauspicious.’

By him was committed the slaughter of those who were unarmed and trusting;
men distraught with fear who had sought refuge were abandoned.

Having seen a great battle and hordes of enemies present, he fled,
having abandoned the duty of a kṣatriya, merely for the sake of saving his life.

Those who were not thieves were arrested, while thieves were constantly protected;
the virtuous were always tormented as he seized their wealth.

No vow was observed by him with a heart purified by faith;
no gift was given to brahmins, nor did he ever sacrifice.

Thus, of that king who was constantly addicted to sin,
there arose a terrible disease of leprosy and the destruction of his lineage, O virtuous twice-born ones.

Then, as he was seized by disease and deprived of sons and grandsons,
his heirs suddenly arrived and thereafter took away the kingdom.

And they banished him on foot from that country,
alone, abandoned by all his circles of friends.

Even he, abandoned by all because of that sinful deed,
even by his own wives, remembered his past conduct.

Wandering alone, having fallen under the power of distress,
utterly exhausted by hunger and thirst, he arrived at this very sacred field.

Then, having reached the temple belonging to the one named Suparṇa,
no sooner had he arrived than, fasting, he was deserted by his life-breaths.

Then, having assumed a divine body, mounted upon an excellent aerial chariot,
he went to the world of Śiva, which is difficult to attain even by the righteous.

Attended by apsarases, praised by kinnaras,
and sung of by gandharvas, he stood at the side of Śiva.

Then, seeing him in his presence, Gaurī asked with respect:
‘Who is this virtuous person that has arrived in your temple, O Lord?
What deed was performed by him that he has arrived here bearing such glory?’

The Lord said:
‘This one was constantly an earthly ruler of sinful conduct,
named Veṇu upon the surface of the earth, afflicted with the disease of leprosy.

Abandoned by his own wives, assaulted by the host of his enemies,
he arrived, while wandering, at the temple of the one named Suparṇa.

Exhausted by fasting, in that auspicious sanctuary
where my presence is, he was abandoned by all his life-breaths.

By that power he has arrived here; this truth has been spoken by me.
Whoever else, having undertaken fasting, casts off his life-breaths there,

he shall obtain glory surpassing all, O fair-complexioned lady!
These attendants of mine whom you behold standing at my side, O goddess—

by all of these was fasting unto death performed there, O goddess.
Even worms, moths, beasts, birds, and deer,
when released from their life-breaths in that temple, come into my presence.’

Sūta said: / Hearing that speech uttered by the god Śambhu, / Pārvatī, her heart filled with wonder, said, "Well done! Well done!"

From that time forward in this world, men desirous of liberation, / even having come from afar, gave up their lives there.

Having undertaken fasting unto death, filled with supreme faith, / even those intent on sin attain the highest perfection.

All this, which destroys every sin, has been told to you— / the māhātmya of the [tīrtha] named Suparṇa, which I heard from my own father.

Thus ends the eighty-third chapter, named 'Description of the Suparṇa Māhātmya', in the glorious Hāṭakeśvara Sacred Field Māhātmya, in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa, the sixth [part] in the Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses, the glorious Skandapurāṇa.