Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 46
विधिः प्राथमिकस्तस्माद्द्वितीये द्विगुणं चरेत् । तृतीये त्रिगुणं प्रोक्तं चतुर्थे नास्ति निष्कृतिः
vidhiḥ prāthamikastasmāddvitīye dviguṇaṃ caret | tṛtīye triguṇaṃ proktaṃ caturthe nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ
অতএব প্রথমবার মূল বিধিই পালনীয়; দ্বিতীয়বার তা দ্বিগুণ করে করা উচিত। তৃতীয়বার ত্রিগুণ বলা হয়েছে; চতুর্থবার কোনো নিষ্কৃতি (প্রায়শ্চিত্ত) নেই।
Unspecified (didactic voice within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A symbolic four-panel sequence: a person commits a fault and performs expiation once, then twice, then thrice with increasing austerity; the fourth panel shows a closed gate or a stern dharma-guardian indicating ‘no release’.
FAQs
Repeated wrongdoing hardens guilt; dharma escalates remedy and finally withdraws ordinary expiation for habitual transgression.
The teaching sits within Prabhāsakṣetra-māhātmya, presenting moral discipline as part of the sacred landscape’s instruction.
A graded scale: first-time rule, second-time double, third-time triple, and no niṣkṛti on the fourth.