Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 122
तीर्थयात्रां प्रकुर्वंति दंभेन कपटेन च । तीर्थे मृता न सिध्यंति ते नरा वरवर्णिनि
tīrthayātrāṃ prakurvaṃti daṃbhena kapaṭena ca | tīrthe mṛtā na sidhyaṃti te narā varavarṇini
يقومون برحلة الحجّ إلى التيرثا بالرياء والخداع؛ وحتى إن ماتوا عند التيرثا فلا ينال أولئك الرجال تمامَ الظفر، يا ذاتَ اللون البهيّ.
Śiva (Īśvara)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī
Scene: A procession of pilgrims with showy banners and proud faces enters the tīrtha; behind them, a humble devotee with folded hands is bathed in a soft aura. A funeral pyre near the riverbank underscores the line ‘even if they die at the tīrtha’.
FAQs
External pilgrimage without sincerity does not yield spiritual success; intention and integrity are decisive.
The teaching is set in Prabhāsa Māhātmya while speaking generally about tīrthas.
Avoid daṃbha (show) and kapaṭa (deceit) in tīrtha-yātrā; approach with genuine devotion and dharma.