Skandapurana 2.8.7
English (machine translation) 2.8.7
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2.8.7.1
Agastya said:
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I shall tell of another sacred ford, known as Kṣīrodaka.
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It lies northwest of Sītākuṇḍa, beautiful in its virtues,
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a sole resting place for an accumulation of merit, destroying all sorrows. (1)
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In former times King Daśaratha, with due regard,
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duly performed a sacrifice there called the Putreṣṭi for the sake of obtaining sons. (2)
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Joyfully he completed the sacrifice with lavish gifts.
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At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the Consumer of sacrificial offerings appeared there in embodied form, (3)
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holding in his hand an unsurpassed golden vessel filled with the oblation.
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In that oblation the supreme splendor of Viṣṇu was blended;
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dividing it fourfold, the king gave it to his wives. (4)
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Where that milk-food was obtained, so exceedingly hard to attain,
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that place is celebrated as Kṣīrodaka, destroying sin,
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manifest through its water, exalted, and granting fruit. (5)
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Having bathed there with devotion, a wise person with conquered senses
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attains all desires, and sons of great learning. (6)
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Steadfast in vows on the eleventh lunar day of the bright half of the month of Āśvina,
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bathing there according to rule and giving according to one’s means to a twice-born, (7)
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and worshiping Viṣṇu duly, one attains all desires.
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Know that a person duly obtains sons and righteous deeds. (8)
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Resting southwest from that place of Kṣīrodaka,
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celebrated is the pool of Bṛhaspati, adorned with magnificent flags and canopies, (9)
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calming all sins, rippling with the nectar of merit,
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where the Guru of the gods visibly made his abode. (10)
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And Bṛhaspati of noble intellect performed a sacrifice there according to rule.
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Endowed with various throngs of sages, delightful, granting many fruits,
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provided with the shade of fine leaves, that pool is hard for sinners to reach. (11)
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Even the gods headed by Indra, having carefully bathed there,
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attained the desired fruit of their minds, full of beauty and generosity. (12)
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By bathing and giving gifts there, a person is freed from sin. (13)
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On the fifth lunar day of the bright half of Bhādrapada, a pilgrimage there bears fruit;
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at other times too, bathing on Thursday yields great fruit. (14)
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Whoever performs the worship of Bṛhaspati and Viṣṇu there,
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freed from all sins, rejoices in the world of Viṣṇu. (15)
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Whoever suffers affliction from Bṛhaspati due to his transit,
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must perform a bath there according to rule, preceded by a formal intention. (16)
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Having performed a fire offering, an image of the Guru fashioned of gold,
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invested with yellow garments, should indeed be given while standing in the water (17)
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to a knower of the Vedas who is exceedingly pure, after having bathed, to remove the affliction;
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and one should have a fire offering made there according to the rule of planetary recitation. (18)
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When this is done, the planetary affliction undoubtedly vanishes. (19)
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To the south of it, O best of sages, is the supreme Rukmiṇīkuṇḍa,
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which goddess Rukmiṇī, Kṛṣṇa’s beloved, made herself. (20)
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Viṣṇu himself then made his abode in the water there;
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by granting a boon out of affection, it was rendered excellent for his wife. (21)
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Bathing there, as well as giving, offering oblations with Vaiṣṇava mantras,
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worship of brahmins, and worship of Viṣṇu, a restrained person should perform. (22)
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An annual pilgrimage should be undertaken there with great effort,
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especially on the ninth lunar day of the dark half of Kārttika, for the removal of all sins. (23)
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A childless person becomes endowed with sons after making the pilgrimage, there is no doubt.
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A bath should be performed with devotion by women or by men. (24)
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Having enjoyed all pleasures, one rejoices in the world of Viṣṇu.
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One should bathe there especially with the desire for prosperity. (25)
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A human being obtains every desire by bathing there,
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and should give gifts according to one’s means for the gratification of Rukmiṇī and the Lord of Śrī. (26)
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Duly performed worship of brahmins should be done especially.
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There one should meditate on the Lord of Lakṣmī, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, (27)
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clad in yellow garments, garlanded, praised by Nārada and others,
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seated on Garuḍa, wearing a crown, adorned by the great Indra and others, (28)
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with the Kaustubha jewel marked upon his chest, for the attainment of the fruits of all desires,
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dark like the flax flower, with eyes spotless as the lotus. (29)
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When this is done, one obtains without doubt all desired objects.
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Having enjoyed happiness in this world, he rejoices in the world of Hari.
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Beyond this, I will describe another sacred ford that removes sin,
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which brings about the destruction of the sins of the Kali age and inspires faith.
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Supremely purifying, peerless, granting the attainment of all desires and wealth,
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known as Dhanayakṣa, it produces supreme confidence.
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It is remembered as auspicious in the north-western direction of the Rukmiṇī pool.
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There was vast wealth there belonging to the royal seer Hariścandra.
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For its protection, a Yakṣa was stationed on high with great care.
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When formerly the sage Viśvāmitra defeated
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Hariścandra, the ruler of men who performed the supreme Rājasūya sacrifice,
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he seized his entire kingdom accompanied by the fourfold army.
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And that sage placed all the excellent wealth under his control.
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For its protection, he diligently stationed a Yakṣa,
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known as Pramanthura, an abode of delight and joy.
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As he provided protection on all sides with great exertion,
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the wise sage, who had conquered his senses, was pleased at a certain time.
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Endowed with supreme affection, he spoke these sweet words:
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Viśvāmitra said:
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"Choose a boon quickly, O knower of righteousness, free from envy.
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O steadfast one, I am especially pleased by your supreme devotion."
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The Yakṣa said:
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"If you grant me the boon I desire, O best of brahmins:
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my body has become foul-smelling due to the curse of a king.
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Be gracious to make it sweet-scented, O brahmin seer, O lord of sages!"
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Agastya said:
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When spoken to thus by the Yakṣa, the sage, whose eyes were fixed in meditation,
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having considered that with such devotion, performed a consecration for him
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with the water of the sacred ford according to rule, having respectfully formed his intention.
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Thereupon, in an instant, he became possessed of an exquisitely fragrant body.
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Having become so, the wise one, with folded palms, then spoke sweetly,
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standing once more before him, bowed down in humility.
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The Yakṣa said:
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"Through your graces, O steadfast one, I have become fragrant-bodied.
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O omniscient one, act so that this place attains renown;
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by your grace, O brahmin seer, make an effort in that regard!"
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Agastya said:
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Addressed thus, having meditated for a moment with steady eyes,
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the sage, gracious in soul, spoke to the Yakṣa with gentle speech:
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Viśvāmitra said:
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"O Yakṣa, this place will attain incomparable fame;
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this sacred ford will attain renown as Dhanayakṣa.
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Bestowing beauty upon the body, producing supreme confidence,
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where, having bathed according to the prescribed rite, one casts off foul odor in an instant.
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A ritual ablution should be carefully performed there by those desiring religious merit,
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as well as giving according to faith and one's capacity, and especially worship of Lakṣmī.
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By ritual ablution and giving there, especially for the pleasure of Lakṣmī,
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and by the worship of the nine treasures, O one of good vows,
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having enjoyed happiness in this world, he rejoices in the other world.
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Mahāpadma, Padma, Śaṅkha, Makara, Kacchapa,
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Mukunda, Kunda, Nīla, and Kharva are the nine treasures.
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Even of these there will be a presence in this pool, O sinless one.
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Indeed, worship of them especially yields abundant fruit.
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The worship of the treasures and Lakṣmī should be performed amidst the water.
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Food of various kinds should be given, and clothes of various sorts,
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gold and other valuables according to one's ability; one should avoid deceit in wealth.
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Secret giving should be carried out carefully with great diligence.
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Fruits and gold especially are to be given.
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Ritual ablution on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight yields abundant fruit.
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It should be performed with the highest faith by those endowed with abundant faith.
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On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in Māgha, the annual pilgrimage should take place;
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there, ritual ablution and especially the water offering to the ancestors [should be performed].
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Saying, ‘May the universe, from Brahmā down to a clump of grass, be satisfied,’
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he should duly offer three handfuls of water with [the sacred thread hung over] the right shoulder.
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A man doing this, O yakṣa, is never deluded;
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having bathed here he goes to heaven, having bathed here he becomes happy.
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Having bathed here, O yakṣa, worship must be offered to you first;
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by duly worshipping you, men obtain destruction of sin.
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‘Homage to the lord of the Pramathas’ is declared to be the mantra for worship;
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in the sacred ford, worship, hearing [the sacred lore], and other rites should be performed.
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So too, O yakṣa, your worship especially [with the offering to] Nidhi and Lakṣmī [should be done];
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the wise man who does this attains all desires.
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One seeking wealth obtains wealth; one seeking a son obtains a son;
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one seeking liberation obtains liberation: what is it that is not obtained here?
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The man who, out of delusion, does not perform the ritual ablution, O yakṣa,
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you shall take all his merit accumulated over the year.”
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Having thus granted boons to him, Viśvāmitra, the lord of sages,
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the best of sages and treasure of austerity, then disappeared.
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From that time forward, that place attained supreme renown;
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the entire ground of that sacred ford is made of gold,
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inlaid with hosts of divine gems, and beautified all around;
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a wise person who acts thus attains the supreme state.
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To the north of Dhanayakṣa, O twice-born, is situated
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the renowned Vasiṣṭhakuṇḍa, which always removes all sins.
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There is the constant dwelling of Vasiṣṭha, who has great austerity as his treasure,
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where Arundhatī of spotless vows always abides.
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The wise and restrained man who, without slacking, performs ritual ablution here,
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especially preceded by a śrāddha, obtains peerless merit.
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The presence of Vāmadeva is right there, O sinless one;
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both Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva must be worshipped with devotion.
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The devoted wife Arundhatī, too, should especially be worshipped;
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ablution should properly be performed according to rule, and gifts made according to one’s ability.
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Attainment of the fruit of all desires is brought about; there is no doubt about this;
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he who performs ritual ablution here becomes equal to Vasiṣṭha.
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In the month of Bhādrapada, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight, observing strict vows,
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the annual pilgrimage to it should be performed according to rule.
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The worship of Viṣṇu should certainly be performed here with effort and faith;
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his self cleansed of all sin, he is glorified in the world of Viṣṇu.
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To the west of Vasiṣṭhakuṇḍa, O best of brahmins,
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is the famous Sāgarakuṇḍa, granting the fulfillment of all desires and purposes,
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where by ritual ablution and gifting one attains all desires.
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Whatever merit one obtains through bathing in the ocean on a full-moon day,
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a man bathing here on a festival day obtains that merit imperishably.
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Therefore, one should bathe here according to the prescribed rule, if desiring a son;
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on the full moon of Āśvina, one should especially perform ablution.
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A wise man who does so is liberated from all sins;
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having bathed here and given [gifts] according to his ability, a man goes to heaven.
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To the southwest of Sāgara[kuṇḍa] is the excellent Yoginīkuṇḍa,
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where the sixty-four yoginīs reside within the water,
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granting the achievement of all aims to men and especially to women,
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all giving the highest siddhi, giving the fruit of all desires.
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In Āśvina, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight especially,
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ritual ablution should be performed with effort by men to please the yoginīs.
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Here, ritual ablution as well as gifting all become fruitful;
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yakṣiṇīs and others are mastered here; of this there is no doubt.
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To the east of Yoginīkuṇḍa is the excellent Urvaśīkuṇḍa,
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where, having bathed, a wise man reaches Urvaśī in heaven.
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Long ago, indeed, a wise sage named Raibhya, whose wealth was austerity,
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wandered near the Himavat, abstaining from food and subduing his senses.
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Seeing that vast austerity, the lord of the gods became afraid.
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he respectfully dispatched Urvaśī to cause an obstacle to his austerity. (87)
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Then, dispatched by him, she, walking with the grace of an elephant, went;
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she dwelt near the Himavat mountains at the unsurpassed hermitage of Raibhya, (88)
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in an arbor of blooming forest creepers where birds sweetly sang,
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where deers' limbs were stilled by the sportive music of the Kinnarīs, (89)
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tawny with the plucked filaments of punnāga, keśara, and aśoka flowers,
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fashioned as if it were a second Golden Mountain by the Creator. (90)
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She shone as the repository of all beauty of the flower-bowed god [Kāma]—
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Urvaśī, a flowing river of the nectar of beauty that was far from ordinary. (91)
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Adorned with white pearls against the gold of her bodily luster,
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she was embellished with youth through the charm of her youthfulness. (92)
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With the wavy white brilliance of the corner of her oblique eyes,
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she made her lower lip resemble the hue of a fresh sprout. (93)
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With a mango blossom hanging by her ear, rich in humming bees,
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she was like a Pārijāta creeper arisen from the interior of nectar. (94)
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Slender-waisted, broad-hipped, her breasts blooming in beauty,
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she was like the power of the flower-bowed god whose arrows have been whetted. (95)
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In that hermitage, the sage saw that large-eyed woman,
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as if a woman's body fashioned by the Mind-born one [Kāma], who had been burned
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- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit