Skandapurana 6.3.143

Chapter 143

The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Then one should go, O great king, to the excellent Yojaneśvara, / where the two seers Nara and Nārāyaṇa attained perfection in a former aeon.

Having performed austerities at that sacred ford, both the great-souled Nara and Nārāyaṇa / obtained victory in battle over the gods and Dānavas.

Then, when the Tretāyuga arrived, those two gods, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, / bathed again at that sacred ford, and the invincible Rāvaṇa was slain.

Again, O son of Pṛthā, when the Kali age arrived, those two gods, Balarāma and Keśava, / were born in the lineage of Vasudeva and accomplished arduous deeds.

Balarāma and Keśava slew Naraka, Kālanemi, Kaṃsa, Cāṇūra, and Muṣṭika, / as well as Śiśupāla and Jarāsandha.

Then, in the battle there, that lord will strike down enemies / headed by Bhīṣma and Droṇa, as well as Karṇa, Duryodhana, and others.

In the sacred field of Dharma, Kurukṣetra, they will fight for a moment, / having made pupils on account of Bhīma and Arjuna against each other.

Having gone again to that sacred ford and performed exceedingly arduous austerities, / and having honored the twice-born with devotion, they will return to Dvārakā.

He who bathes at that sacred ford and worships Balarāma and Keśava, / has thereby worshipped the god who sustains the world and embodies the three qualities.

A man who fasts, keeps a night vigil, / and sings his auspicious narrative is freed from all sins.

As many trees as men look upon at that sacred ford, / so much sin, beginning with the killing of a brahmin, is destroyed for them.

Whoever rises early in the morning and beholds Balarāma and Keśava / becomes equal to that god of gods who bears the discus.

They are worthy of worship, they are worthy of salutation, and fruitful is their life / who bow to the god Nārāyaṇa, Hari, who is worshipped by the universe.

Whatever gift, ritual ablution, and worship of the gods is performed at that sacred ford, O king, / all of that fruit serves to be imperishable.

Gold was the first offspring of Agni, the earth belongs to Viṣṇu, and cows are daughters of the sun; / he who gives gold, a cow, and land has given the three worlds.

All this excellent sacred ford's māhātmya has been told to you— / past, future, and present, possessing great power.

Having heard this, or having read it, or having caused the righteous to hear it, / one is freed from all sins; no doubt should be entertained on this point.

Thus ends the one hundred and forty-third chapter, named the Description of the Māhātmya of Yojaneśvaratīrtha, in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth section, the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the Skandamahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.