Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3
स मृतोऽप्ययने याम्ये तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । प्राप्नोति नात्र संदेहस्तत्प्रभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः
sa mṛto'pyayane yāmye tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam | prāpnoti nātra saṃdehastatprabhāvāddvijottamāḥ
وإن مات في زمن المسار الجنوبي، فإنه ينال المقام الأعلى لذلك الربّ فيشنو. لا ريب في ذلك، يا خيرةَ ذوي الولادتين—فذلك من تأثير ذلك التيـرثا.
Sūta (contextual continuation)
Tirtha: Viṣṇupada
Type: ghat
Listener: Dvijottamāḥ (assembled brāhmaṇa sages)
Scene: A devotee worships at Viṣṇupada; the scene transitions to a visionary ascent: a radiant path leading to Viṣṇu’s supreme abode (paramaṃ padam), with Vaikuṇṭha-like imagery—lotus, conch, discus—while the earthly sun indicates dakṣiṇāyana.
FAQs
Devotion at a powerful tirtha is presented as capable of leading the soul to Viṣṇu’s highest state, transcending fear of death and timing.
Viṣṇupada-tīrtha and its extraordinary spiritual efficacy.
Implicitly, worship and self-dedication at the tirtha; the verse highlights the fruit (paramaṃ padam) even if death occurs in Dakṣiṇāyana.