Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 37
यथा शुक्ला तथा कृष्णा न विशेषोऽस्ति कश्चन । तथापि वर्धते धर्मः शुक्लायामेव सर्वदा
yathā śuklā tathā kṛṣṇā na viśeṣo'sti kaścana | tathāpi vardhate dharmaḥ śuklāyāmeva sarvadā
যেনে শুক্ল পক্ষ, তেনেই কৃষ্ণ পক্ষ—কোনো ভেদ নাই; তথাপি ধৰ্ম সদায় বিশেষকৈ শুক্ল পক্ষতেই বৃদ্ধি পায়।
Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya instructional style)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Two mirrored panels: śukla-pakṣa with waxing moon and bright temple lamps; kṛṣṇa-pakṣa with waning moon and subdued lamps—both showing pilgrims, but the śukla side subtly more radiant, indicating ‘dharma-vardhana’.
FAQs
Though both fortnights are sacred, the Purāṇic emphasis here is that merit-bearing observances flourish especially in the bright fortnight.
The broader context is Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Prabhāsakṣetramāhātmya), where correct observance of dharma is praised as part of the site’s greatness.
A kāla-principle: dharma is said to ‘increase’ in śukla-pakṣa, guiding preferred timing for vows and rites.