Skandapurana 4.52.9.5

4.52.9.5

"The fire born of distress among subjects is more terrible even than the fire of a thunderbolt; / the fire of a thunderbolt burns two or three, but the former consumes a kingdom, family, and body. / When I am about to take the avabhṛtha bath, O best of brahmins, / I then perform an ablution with the water from the feet of brahmins. / The oblation I make into the mouth of a brahmin, O best among the twice-born— / I consider that superior even to sacrificial rites, O great-minded one. / Among all desires, one keeps vigil here in my heart: / even today, some petitioner asking even for my own body must be seen. / Oh, after many days my wish has borne fruit, / since today you have arrived at my house to make a request, O brahmin. / With a focused mind, O brahmin, perform many sacrifices / with lavish sacrificial fees; know that assistance is given in all matters." / Having heard this speech of the deeply wise, righteous king, / the Creator, pleased in mind, brought together the provisions for the sacrifice. / Having received the assistance of the royal seer Divodāsa, the lotus-born [Brahmā] / sacrificed in Kāśī with ten horse-sacrifices, great sacrificial rites. / The space of the sky was filled with masses of sacrificial smoke even then; / from that time on, this sky has not lost its blueness. / The sacred ford named Daśāśvamedha became renowned across the earthly realm; / from that time on it existed in Vārāṇasī, bestowing auspiciousness. / Formerly, O pot-born [Agastya], that sacred ford was known as Rudrasaras; / it later became known as Daśāśvamedhika due to its adoption by the Creator. / Then the celestial river arrived through the coming of Bhagīratha; / hence that supreme sacred ford became exceedingly meritorious. / Having consecrated the liṅga Daśāśvamedheśa there indeed, / the Creator remained; even to this day he has gone nowhere leaving Kāśī behind. / He found no flaw whatsoever in that king devoted to righteousness; / hence what could the Creator say, going before the enemy of Tripura? / Recognizing the power of the sacred field, meditating on Śiva the Lord of the Universe,