Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60
तीर्थस्नानैस्तपोभिर्वा दुष्टात्मा नैव शुध्यति । स्वेदितः क्षालितस्तीर्थे किं शुद्धिमधिगच्छति
tīrthasnānaistapobhirvā duṣṭātmā naiva śudhyati | sveditaḥ kṣālitastīrthe kiṃ śuddhimadhigacchati
لا بالاغتسال في التيـرثا ولا بالزهد والتقشّف يطهر ذو النفس الخبيثة. فإن كان لا يفعل إلا أن يعرق ويغتسل في التيـرثا، فأيُّ طهارةٍ حقيقيةٍ ينال؟
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: tīrtha (generic)
Type: ghat
Scene: At a river-ford, a harsh-faced man bathes repeatedly while arguing/cheating nearby; beside him a humble pilgrim performs snāna with prayer and restraint—showing the contrast between washing and purification.
FAQs
Ritual bathing and austerity must be joined with moral and inner transformation; otherwise they remain superficial.
No single tīrtha is named; the verse speaks generally about tīrtha-bathing.
Tīrtha-snāna and tapas are mentioned, but their efficacy is denied when the inner self is corrupt.