Skandapurana 2.4.2.45

2.4.2.45

2.4.2.45
Regarding Puṣkara, the renowned story is told in the Sāroddhāra: Formerly in the village of Nandigrāma there lived two brahmins named Puṣkara. Among them one was a virtuous soul and the other a sinner. Then once Yama ordered his messengers to bring the sinful Puṣkara. But they, leaving him aside, brought the virtuous Puṣkara. Then Yama, having reprimanded the messengers, with great respect said to Puṣkara: "O Puṣkara, my command was not for your bringing; go back again." Then Puṣkara said: "O Yama, I wish to see the hells where torments are experienced by sinners." Then, having seen the host of hell-dwellers shown by Yama, agitated by cries of distress and exceedingly miserable, Puṣkara, filled with great terror and moved by compassion, said to them: "O hell-dwellers, previously you considered nothing; now what is the use of wailing? You did not even utter the name of the Lord, which destroys all sin." The hell-dwellers said: "O Puṣkara, what you have spoken is true. Stay for a moment; by the wind touching your body we shall have comfort." Then, spoken to by Yama: "What is the use of these [sinners]? Go!", Puṣkara said: "O Yama, without having freed them, I do not dare to leave; therefore, if the Lord Govinda, the Self of all beings, has been worshipped by me, then by that merit let these hell-dwellers be liberated!" Having spoken thus, he remembered the name of Viṣṇu, saying, "Govinda, Govinda!" At that very moment all the hell-dwellers were liberated, assumed divine forms, and saying to Puṣkara, "Your fame will be incomparable!", went to Vaikuṇṭha. Puṣkara too, bidding farewell to Yama, went to the highest abode solely through the greatness of the [divine] Name. ..45..