Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23
यस्तु केदारमुद्दिश्य गेहादर्धपथेप्यहो । अकातरस्त्यजेत्प्राणान्कैलासे स चिरं वसेत्
yastu kedāramuddiśya gehādardhapathepyaho | akātarastyajetprāṇānkailāse sa ciraṃ vaset
যে ব্যক্তি কেদারের উদ্দেশ্যে গৃহ থেকে যাত্রা করে অর্ধপথেও—অকাতর ও অবিচল থেকে—প্রাণ ত্যাগ করে, সে দীর্ঘকাল কৈলাসে বাস করে।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣi-audience
Scene: A pilgrim sets out from home with staff and waterpot, eyes fixed on distant snowy peaks labeled Kedāra. Midway, the pilgrim falls peacefully, still gripping prayer beads; above, a luminous path opens toward Kailāsa.
FAQs
Saṅkalpa (holy intention) and steadfastness sanctify the journey; even an unfinished pilgrimage can yield great fruit.
Kedāra is praised as a destination so meritorious that even setting out toward it grants Kailāsa-fruit.
A pilgrimage vow/undertaking (yātrā-saṅkalpa) toward Kedāra, emphasizing fearlessness and resolve.