Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 12
काषायवस्त्रैश्च जटाभरैश्च पूर्ताग्निहोत्रैः किमु चान्य मन्त्रैः । धर्मार्थकामवरमोक्षकरीं च भद्रामेकां भजस्व कलिकालविनाशिनीं च
kāṣāyavastraiśca jaṭābharaiśca pūrtāgnihotraiḥ kimu cānya mantraiḥ | dharmārthakāmavaramokṣakarīṃ ca bhadrāmekāṃ bhajasva kalikālavināśinīṃ ca
ما الحاجة إلى ثياب الكاشايا ولُبدات الشعر، وإلى أعمال البرّ العامة وقرابين النار (أغنيهوترا)، أو إلى سائر المانترا؟ اعبدْ تلك الملاحظة المباركة الواحدة وحدها—العبادة السعيدة التي تمنح الدَّرما والأرثا والكاما والمُوكشا العُظمى، وتُبيد شرور عصر كالي.
Narrative voice (contextual exhortation within Dvārakā Māhātmya; specific speaker not explicit in this verse)
Tirtha: Bhadrā ekā (the single auspicious observance—contextually Viṣṇu-jāgaraṇa/vrata)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A contrast tableau: on one side, ascetics with ochre robes and matted locks performing agnihotra and public works; on the other, a single devotee (or group) worshipping Viṣṇu with lamps and song—above them, the four puruṣārthas and mokṣa symbolically radiate, while a dark ‘Kali’ figure dissolves.
FAQs
A single, auspicious devotional observance is exalted as surpassing external marks and many rites, leading up to mokṣa and relief from Kali-yuga’s harms.
No distinct tīrtha is named in this verse; it emphasizes the greatness of the observance within the Dvārakā Māhātmya frame.
To ‘bhaja’ (embrace/worship) the one ‘bhadrā’ observance that grants the four aims and mokṣa—presented as superior to agnihotra, pūrta, and other mantras.