Skanda Purana · Verses 1.3-2

//sūta uvāca//
evaṃ sthānāni puṇyāni yāniyānīha vai bhuvi//
nirīkṣaṃstatra tatrāhaṃ nārado vīrasattama

vicaranmedinīṃ sarvāṃ prāpto'hamāśramaṃ bhṛgoḥ//
yatra revānadī puṇyā saptakalpasmarā varā

mahāpuṇyā pavitrā ca sarvatīrthamayī śubhā//
punāni kīrtanenaiva darśanena viśeṣataḥ

tatrāvagāhanātpārtha mucyate jaṃturaṃhasā//
yathā sā piṅgalā nāḍī dehamadhye vyavasthitā

iyaṃ brahmāṃḍapiṇḍasya sthāne tasminprakīrtitā//
tatrāste śuklatīrthākhyaṃ revāyāṃ pāpanāśanam

yatra vai snānamātreṇa brahmahatyā praṇaśyati//
tasyāpi sannidhau pārtha revāyā uttare taṭe

nānāvṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ latāgulmopaśobhitam//
nānāpuṣpaphalo petaṃ kadalīkhaṃḍamaṃḍitam

anekāśvāpadākīrṇaṃ vihagairanunāditam//
sugaṃdhapuṣpaśobhāḍhyaṃ mayūraravanāditam

bhramaraiḥ sarvamutsṛjya nilīnaṃ rāvasaṃyutam//
yathā saṃsāramutsṛjya bhaktena harapādayoḥ

kokilā madhuraiḥ svānairnādayaṃti tathā munīn//
yathā kathāmṛtākhyānairbrāhmaṇā bhavabhīrukān

yatra vṛkṣā hlādayaṃti phalaiḥ puṣpaiśca patrakaiḥ//
chāyābhirapi kāṣṭhaiśca lokāniva haravratāḥ

putraputreti vāśaṃte yatra putrapriyāḥ khagāḥ//
yathā śivapriyāḥ śaivā nityaṃ śivaśiveti ca

evaṃvidhaṃ munestasya bhṛgorāśramamaṃḍalam//
vipraistraividyasaṃyuktaiḥ sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtam

ṛgyajuḥ sāmanirghopairārūritadigantaram//
rudrabhaktena dhīreṇa yathaiva bhuvanatrayam

tatrāhaṃ pārtha saṃprāpto yatrāste munisattamaḥ//
bhṛguḥ paramadharmātmātapasā dyotitaprabhaḥ

āgacchaṃtaṃ tu māṃ dṛṣṭvā dīnaṃ ca muditaṃ tathā//
abhyutthānaṃ kṛtaṃ sarvairviprairbhṛgupurogamaiḥ

kṛtvā susvāgataṃ dattvā arghādyaṃ bhṛguṇā saha//
āsaneṣūpaviṣṭāste munīṃdrā grāhitā mayā

viśrāṃtaṃ tu tato jñātvā bhṛgurmāmapyuvācaha//
kva gaṃtavyaṃ muniśreṣṭha kasmādiha samāgataḥ

āgamanakāraṇaṃ sarvaṃ samācakṣva parisphuṭam//
tatastaṃ ciṃtayāviṣṭo bhṛguṃ pārthāhamabruvam

śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi yadarthamahāmāgataḥ//
mayā paryaṭitā sarvā samudrāṃtā ca medinī

dvijānāṃ bhūmidānārthaṃ mārgamāṇaḥ padepade//
nirdoṣāṃ ca pavitrāṃ ca tīrtheṣvapi samanvitām

ramyāṃ manoramāṃ bhūmiṃ na paśyāmi kathaṃcana//
//bhṛguruvāca//
viprāṇāṃ sthāpanārthāya mayāpi bhramatā purā

pṛthvī sāgaraparyaṃtā dṛṣṭā sarvā tadānagha//
mahīnāma nadī puṇyā sarvatīrthamayī śubhā

divyā manoramā saumyā mahāpāpapraṇāśinī//
nadīrūpeṇa tatraiva pṛthvī sā nātra saṃśayaḥ

pṛthivyāṃ yāni tīrthāni dṛṣṭādṛṣṭāni nārada//
tāni sarvāṇi tatraiva nivasaṃti mahījale

sā samudreṇa saṃprāptā puṇyatoyā mahānadī//
saṃjātastatra devarṣe mahīsāgarasaṃgamaḥ

staṃbhākhyaṃ tatra tīrthaṃ tu triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam//
tatra ye manujāḥ snānaṃ prakurvaṃti vipaścitaḥ

sarvapāpavinirmuktā nopasarpaṃti vai yamam//
tatrādbhutaṃ hi dṛṣṭaṃ me purā snātuṃ gatena vai

tadahaṃ kīrtayiṣyāmi mune śrṛṇu mahādbhutam//
yāvatsnātuṃ vrajāmyasminmahīsāgarasaṃgame

tīre sthitaṃ prapaśyāmi munīṃdraṃ pāvakopamam//
prāṃśuṃ vṛddhaṃ cāsthiśeṣaṃ tapolakṣmyā vibhūṣitam

bhujāvūrdhvau tataḥ kṛtvā prarudaṃtaṃ muhurmuhuḥ//
taṃ tathā duḥkhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā duḥkhito'hamathābhavam

satāṃ lakṣaṇametaddhi yaddṛṣṭvā duḥkhitaṃ janam//
śatasaṃkhya tasya bhavettathāhaṃ vilalāpa ha

ahiṃsā satyamasteyaṃ mānuṣye sati durlabham//
tatastamupasaṃgamya paryapṛcchamahaṃ tadā

kimarthaṃ rodiśi mune śoke kiṃ kāraṇaṃ tava//
suguhyamapi cedbūhi jijñāsā mahatī hi me

munistato māmavadadbhṛgo nirbhāgyavānaham//
tena rodimi mā pṛccha durbhāgyaṃ cālapeddhi kaḥ

tamahaṃ vismayāviṣṭaḥ punarevedamabruvam//
durlabhaṃ bhārate janma tatrāpi ca manuṣyatā

manuṣyatve brāhmaṇatvaṃ munitvaṃ tatra durlabham//
tatrāpi ca tapaḥsiddhiḥ prāpyaitatpaṃcakaṃ param

kimarthaṃ rodiṣi mune vismayo'tra mahānmama//
evaṃ saṃpṛcchate mahyametasminneva cāṃtare

subhadronāma nāmnā ca munistatrābhyupāyayau//
sa hi meruṃ parityajya jñātvā tīrthasya sāratām

kṛtāśramaḥ pūjayati sadā staṃbheśvaraṃ muniḥ//
so'pyevaṃ māmi vāpṛcchanmuniṃ rodanakāraṇam

athāhācamya sa muniḥ śrūyatāṃ kāraṇaṃ munī//
ahaṃ hi devaśarmākhyo muniḥ saṃyatavāṅmanāḥ

nivasāmi kṛtasthāno gaṃgāsāgarasaṃgame//
tatra darśetarpayāmi sadaiva ca pitṝnaham

śrāddhāṃte te ca pratyakṣā hyāśiṣo me vadaṃti ca//
tataḥ kadācitpitaraḥ prahṛṣṭā māmathābravan

vayaṃ sadātra cāyāmo devaśarmaṃstavāṃtike//
sthāne'smākaṃ kadācittvaṃ na cāyāsi kutaḥ sutaḥ

sthānaṃ didṛkṣustaccāhaṃ na śakto'smi nivoditum//
tataḥ paramamityuktvā gatavānpitṛbhiḥ saha

pitṝṇāṃ maṃdiraṃ puṇyaṃ bhaumalokasamāsthitam//
tatratatra sthitaścāhaṃ tejomaṇḍaladurdṛśān

dṛṣṭvāgrataḥ pūjayāḍhyānapṛcchaṃ svānpitṝniti//
ke hyamī samupāyāṃti bhṛśaṃ tṛptā bhṛśārcitāḥ//
bhṛśaṃpramuditā naiva tathā yūyaṃ yathā hyamī

//pitara ūcuḥ//
bhadraṃ te pitaraḥ puṇyāḥ subhadrasya mahāmuneḥ//
tarpitāstena muninā mahīsāgarasaṃgame

sarvatīrthamayī yatra nilīnā hyudadhau mahī//
tatra darśe tarpayati subhadrastānamūnsuta

ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṃ lajjito'haṃ bhṛśaṃtadā//
vismitaśca praṇamyaitānpitṝnsvaṃ sthānamāgataḥ

yathā tathā ciṃtitaṃ ca tatra yāsyāmyahaṃ śphuṭam//
puṇyo yatrāpi vikhyāto mahīsāgarasaṃgamaḥ

kṛtāśramaśca tatraiva tarpayiṣye nijānpitṝn//
darśedarśe yathā cāsau stutyanāmā subhadrakaḥ

kiṃ tena nanu jātena kulāṃgāreṇa pāpinā//
yasmiñjīvatyavi nijāḥ pitaro'nyaspṛhākarāḥ

iti saṃciṃtya mudito ruciṃ bhāryāmathābravum//
ruce tvayā samāyukto mahīsāgagarasaṃgamam

gatvā sthāsyāmi tatraiva śīghraṃ tvaṃ sammukhībhava//
pativratāsi śuddhāsikulīnāsi yaśasvini//
tasmādetanmama śubhe kartumarhasi ciṃtitam

//ruciruvāca//
hatā tasya janirnābhūtkathaṃ pāpa durātmanā

śmaśānastaṃbha yenāhaṃ dattā tubhyaṃ kṛtaṃtvāya//
iha kaṃdaphalāhārairyatkiṃ tena na pūryate

netumicchasi māṃ tatra yatra kṣārodakaṃ sadā//
tvameva tatra saṃyāhi naṃdaṃtu tava pūrvajāḥ

gaccha vā tiṣṭha vā vṛddha vasa vā kākavacciram//
tathā bruvantyāṃ tasyāṃ tu karṇāvasmi pidhāya ca

vipulaṃ śiṣyamādiśya gṛha eko'tra āgataḥ//
so'haṃ snātvātra saṃtarpya pitṝñchraddhāparāyaṇaḥ

ciṃtāṃ suvipulāṃ prāpto narake duṣkṛtī yathā//
yadi tiṣṭhāmi cātraiva ardhadehadharo hyaham

naro hi gṛhiṇīhīno ardhadeha iti smṛtaḥ//
yathātmanā vinā dehe kāryaṃ kiṃcinna sidhyati

anayorhi phalaṃ grāhyaṃ sāratā nātra kācana//
ardhadehī ca manujastvasaṃspṛśyaḥ satāṃmataḥ

anayorhiphalaṃ grāhyaṃ sāratā nātra kācana//
ardhadehī ca manujastvasaṃspṛśyaḥ satāṃmataḥ

auttānapādiraspṛśya uttamo hi suraiḥ kṛtaḥ//
atha cettatra saṃyāmi na mahīsāgarastataḥ

yāmi vā tatkathaṃ pādau calato me kathaṃcana//
etasminme mano viddhaṃ khidyate'jñānasaṃkaṭe

ato'hamatimuhyāmi bhṛśaṃ śocāmi rodimi//
itiśrutvā vacastasya bhṛśaṃ romāṃcapūritam

sādhusādhvityathovāca taṃ subhadro'pyahaṃ tathā//
daṇḍavacca praṇamito mahīsāgarasaṅgamam

cintayāvaśca manasi pratīkāraṃ munerubhau//
yo hi mānuṣyamāsādya jalabudbudabhaṃguram

parārthāya bhavatyeṣa puruṣo'nye purīṣakāḥ//
tataḥ saṃciṃtya prāhedaṃ subhadro munisattamam

mā mune parikhidyasva devaśarmansthiro bhava//
ahaṃ te nāśayiṣyāmi śokaṃ sūryastamo yathā

gamiṣyāmyāśramaṃ tvaṃ ca nātrāpi parihāsyate//
śrṛṇu tatkāraṇaṃ tubhyaṃ tarpayiṣye pitṝnaham

//devaśarmovāca//
evaṃ te vadamānasya āyurastu śataṃ samāḥ//
yadaśakyaṃ mahatkarma kartumicchasi matkṛte

harṣasthāne viṣādaśca punarmāṃ bādhate śrṛṇu//
api vākyaṃ śubhaṃ santo na gṛhṇanti mudhā mune

kathametanmahatkarma kārayāmi mudhāvada//
punaḥ kiṃcitpravakṣyāmi yathā me niṣkṛtirbhavet

śāpito'si mayā prāṇairyathā vacmi tathā kuru//
ahaṃ sadā kariṣyāmi darśe coddiśyate pitṝn

śrāddhaṃ gaṃgārṇave cātra matpitṝṇāṃ tvamācara//
ahaṃ caivāpi tapasaḥ saṃcitasyāpi janmanā//
caturbhāgaṃ pradāsyāmi evamevaitadācara

//subhadra uvāca//
yadyevaṃ tava saṃtoṣastvevamastu munīśvara//
sādhūnāṃ ca yathā harṣastathā kāryaṃ vijānatā

//bhṛguruvāca//
devaśarmā tato hṛṣṭo dattvā puṇyaṃ trivācikam//
caturthāśaṃ yayau dhāma svaṃ subhadro'pi ca sthitaḥ

evaṃvidho nāradāsau mahī sāgarasaṃgamaḥ//
yamanusmarato mahyaṃ romāṃco'dyāpi vartate

//nārada uvāca//
iti śrutvā phālgunāhaṃ harṣagadgadayā girā//
mṛtomṛta ivā vocaṃ sādhusādhviti taṃbhṛgum

yūyaṃ vayaṃ gamiṣyāmo mahītīraṃ suśobhanam//
āvāmīkṣāvahe sarvaṃ sthānakaṃ tadanuttamam

mama caivaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā bhṛguḥ saha mayayayau//
samastaṃ tu mahāpuṇyaṃ mahīkūlaṃ nirīkṣitam

taddṛṣṭvā cātihṛṣṭohamāsaṃ romāṃcakaṃcukaḥ//
abravaṃ muniśārdūlaṃ harṣagadgadayā girā

tvatprasādātkariṣyāmi bhṛgo sthānamanuttamam//
svasthānaṃ gamyatāṃ brahmannataḥ kṛtyaṃ viciṃtaye

evaṃ bhṛguṃ cāsmivisarjayitvā kallolakolāhalakautukītaṭe//
athopaviśyedamaciṃtayaṃ tadā kiṃ kṛtyamātmānamivaikayogī

iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ prathame māheśvarakhaṇḍe kaumārīkākhaṃḍe nāradārjunasaṃvāde mahīsāgarasaṃgamatīrthamāhātmye tṛtīyo'dhyāyaḥ