तस्येशानतरे भागे रामो भार्गवसत्तमः 5.1.61.
On the other side of that place is Rama, the foremost among the descendants of Bhrigu.
कौशिकी च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सर्वतीर्थवरप्रदा
And Kauśikī, the best of rivers, grants the highest blessings of all sacred waters.
रामेश्वरं समालोक्य धूतपापो भवेन्नरः
By beholding Rāmeśvara, a man becomes freed from sin.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चम आवंत्यखण्डेऽवन्तीक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये पुरुषोत्तमेश्वरमाहात्म्येऽधिमासस्नानदानादिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनामैकषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the fifth Avantya Khanda, in the greatness of the Avantī region, in the greatness of Puruṣottameśvara, this is the sixty-first chapter named 'Description of the greatness of bathing, giving, and other acts during the extra month.'
गोमतीकुण्डं त्वया प्रोक्तं पुरा ब्रह्मन्सनातनम्
You have previously described to me the eternal Gomati pool, O Brahman.
शृणुष्व भो महाप्राज्ञ कथां पापहरां पराम्
Now listen, O greatly wise one, to the supreme story that destroys sin.
नैमिषे च समासीना ऋषयः शौनकादयः
At Naimisha, the sages led by Shaunaka were seated.
तस्मिन्नवसरे पुण्ये काशीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
At that auspicious moment, the supreme glory of Kashi was recounted.
ऊषरः पुण्य पापानां धन्या वाराणसी पुरी
Blessed is the city of Varanasi, the holy place where sins are destroyed.
असीवरुणयोर्मध्ये पंचक्रोशी महाफलम्
Between the Asi and Varuna rivers, the five-krosha area yields great fruit.
इति स्मृत्वा तदा व्यास स्वयंभूः प्रत्यभाषत
Recalling this, Vyasa, the self-born, then spoke.
नदी न गोमतीतुल्या कृष्णतुल्या न देवता
No river equals the Gomati, and no goddess equals Krishna.
इति ते निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा ऋषयः शौनकादयः
Having thus understood with certainty, the sages led by Shaunaka—
तत्रैव गोमतीतीरे चक्रुस्ते ला धृतव्रताः 5.1.62.
There on the bank of the Gomati, those resolute in their vows performed sacrifices.
एवं बहुतिथे काले चरतस्तस्य वै व्रतम्
Thus, over a long period, they continued to observe their vow.
तस्यैव कामपूर्त्यर्थं विद्यार्थिनौ रामजनार्दनौ
For the fulfillment of his desire, Rāma and Janārdana, eager for knowledge, approached him.
निवासं चक्रतुस्तस्य गुरोर्गेहे परंतप
They made their dwelling in the house of their teacher, O scorcher of foes.
उषस्युषसि तत्रैव दृश्यते न तदा गुरुः
At dawn, in that very place, the teacher was not to be seen.
इति पृष्टे तयोरेवं गुरुपत्नी ह्युवाच ह
When they asked thus, the teacher's wife spoke to them.
तत्रैव याति वै नित्यं गुरुस्ते स्नानकारणात्
Your teacher goes there every day for the purpose of bathing.
इति श्रुत्वा तदा कृष्णो रामेण सह संयुतः
Hearing this, Kṛṣṇa, together with Rāma, was united in intent.
गुरोरागमनं कांक्षे अत्रैव स्थितिकांक्षया
They awaited the teacher's arrival there, desiring to remain.
तत उत्थाय तौ वीरौ गुरोरावंदनं ततः
Then those two heroes rose and offered their respects to the teacher.
श्रूयतां भो महायोगिन्नस्माकं वासकार णम् 5.1.62.
O great ascetic, please hear the reason for our stay here.
प्रातःकाले च ते ब्रह्मन्समयो नास्ति नौ प्रभो
O Brāhmaṇa, in the morning there is no appointed time for us, O lord.
उवाच भगवान्व्यास आत्मनो व्रतकारणम्
The venerable Vyāsa spoke of the reason for his observance.
गोमतीस्नानं कर्तव्यं प्रातःकाले सदा बुधैः
Bathing in the Gomati should always be performed in the morning by the wise.
इति निश्चित्य युष्माभिर्यद्योग्यं क्रियतां तथा
Thus, having decided, do what is proper for you accordingly.
गोमत्याराधनं चक्रे कुशस्थल्यां द्विजोत्तम
He performed the worship of the Gomati at Kuśasthalī, O best of twice-born.
कंथडेश्वरस्योत्तरे भागे गोमती सा समागता
To the north of Kaṃthaḍeśvara, the Gomati river was found.