Skandapurana 6.2.71.75.4

6.2.71.75.4

kathyatāṃ mama devarṣe yena puṇyā bhavāmi vai .. 45 ..
iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā nārado munisattamaḥ ..
trikālavedī śuddhātmā gaṃgāṃ vacanamabravīt.. 46 ..
.. nārada uvāca.. ..
kiṃ vismṛto jagadvaṃdye devānāṃ samayaḥ śubhaḥ ..
pratijñātaṃ tvayā devi vasūnāṃ mokṣakāraṇe .. 47 ..
prāptāste vasavo lokānprasādāttava suvrate ..
tvayāvatārito devi samudraḥ śaṃtanuḥ smṛtaḥ .. 48 ..
iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā nāradasya mahātmanaḥ ..
gaṃgā tripathagā puṇyā pratyuvāca mahāmunim.. 49 ..
satyamuktaṃ tvayā brahmañjñātaṃ sarvaṃ mayā'dhunā ..
kiṃtu yoniryato labdhā mānuṣī tena mohitā .. 5.2.71.50 ..
apavādabhayādbhītā bhavaṃtaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatā ..
dīyatāmupadeśo me kathyatāṃ sthānamuttamam .. 51 ..
.. nārada uvāca .. ..
kiṃ vismṛto jagadvaṃdye devānāṃ samayaḥ kṛtaḥ ..
apavādabhayādbhītā yadi tvaṃ devi puṇyade ..
māṃ pṛcchasi paraṃ sthānaṃ śṛṇu tvaṃ vacmi suvrate .. 52 ..
avaṃtī tu samākhyātā sapta kalpasanātanī ..
tasyāṃ sakhī tvadīyā tu śiprā viprapriyā sadā .. 53 ..
tasyāstīre śubhaṃ liṃgaṃ durddharṣeśvaradakṣiṇe ..
vidyate tridaśaiḥ pūjyaṃ sarvatī rthaiśca sevitam .. 54 ..
tasya darśanamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyā bhaviṣyasi ..
tasmādgaccha mahāpuṇye gaṃge devarṣisevite .. 55 ..
ityuktā sā tripathagā nāradena mahātmanā ..
gatā tatra mahāpuṇyā sakhīṃ śiprāṃ dadarśa ha .. 56 ..
saṃśleṣaṃ ca tadā kṛtvā liṃgaṃ dṛṣṭvā supāvanam ..
pūjayāmāsa bhāvena tatraiva ca ciraṃ sthitā .. 57 ..
atha sūryasutā devī yamunā pāpanāśinī ..
tatrāyātā suhārddena yatra gaṃgā vyavasthitā .. 58 ..

Tell me, O divine seer, how I may indeed become pure." / Hearing these words of hers, Nārada, the best of sages, / who knows the three times and is pure-souled, spoke to Gaṅgā: / Nārada said: / "O you praised by the world, have you forgotten the auspicious agreement with the gods, / which was promised by you, O goddess, for the liberation of the Vasus? / Those Vasus have attained their realms by your grace, O faithful one! / The ocean, called Śaṃtanu, was brought down [to earth] by you, O goddess." / Hearing these words of the noble Nārada, / holy Gaṅgā, the three-pathed river, replied to the great sage: / "You have spoken the truth, O brahmin; now I know everything. / But because a human womb was taken, I was bewildered by it. / Terrified of the fear of infamy, I have taken refuge in you. / Give me instruction; tell me of an excellent place." / Nārada said: / "O you praised by the world, is the agreement made with the gods forgotten? / If, terrified of the fear of infamy, O goddess who bestows merit, / you ask me for an ultimate place, listen, O faithful one, I shall tell you. / Avantī is renowned, eternal through seven kalpas; / in it is your friend Śiprā, who is always dear to brahmins. / On its bank, to the south of Durdharṣeśvara, is an auspicious liṅga, / worthy of worship by the thirty [gods] and attended by all sacred fords. / Merely by its darśana, you will have accomplished your purpose. / Therefore, go, O most holy Gaṅgā, attended by divine seers!" / Thus addressed by the noble Nārada, the most holy three-pathed river / went there and beheld her friend Śiprā. / Then, embracing her and beholding the supremely purifying liṅga, / she worshipped it with devotion and remained right there for a long time. / Then the goddess Yamunā, daughter of the sun, destroyer of sin, / came there with affection to where Gaṅgā was staying.