Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 54
अश्रद्दधानः पापात्मा नास्तिकोऽच्छिन्नसंशयः । हेतुनिष्ठश्च पंचैते न तीर्थफलभागिनः
aśraddadhānaḥ pāpātmā nāstiko'cchinnasaṃśayaḥ | hetuniṣṭhaśca paṃcaite na tīrthaphalabhāginaḥ
فاقد الإيمان، وذو النفس الآثمة، والملحد المنكر، ومن لا تنقطع شكوكه، ومن لا يثبت إلا على الجدل والعلل—هؤلاء الخمسة لا ينالون ثمرة التيرثات.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī-tīrtha principle (general)
Type: kshetra
Scene: At a ghat, two groups: one pilgrim bows with faith and calm; another argues loudly with scrolls, face tense; above them, a subtle aura of light surrounds the faithful while the disputatious figure remains in shadow—symbolizing receptivity vs blockage.
FAQs
Sacred places yield their promised merit when approached with faith and humility, not cynicism, doubt, or mere argument.
The warning is given in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting, applying to Kāśī’s tīrthas and pilgrimage generally.
An inner prescription: cultivate śraddhā and remove chronic doubt and denial to become eligible for tīrthaphala.