Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 77
न तां गतिं यान्ति भृगुप्रपातिनो न दण्डिनो नैव च सांख्ययोगिनः । ध्वजाकुले दुन्दुभिशङ्खनादिते क्षणेन यां यान्ति महाहवे मृताः
na tāṃ gatiṃ yānti bhṛguprapātino na daṇḍino naiva ca sāṃkhyayoginaḥ | dhvajākule dundubhiśaṅkhanādite kṣaṇena yāṃ yānti mahāhave mṛtāḥ
Jenes Ziel erreichen sie nicht—weder die am Abgrund Bhṛgus Stürzenden, noch die Stabträger-Asketen, noch selbst die Sāṅkhya-Yogins—das die in großer Schlacht Gefallenen in einem Augenblick erlangen, inmitten wogender Banner und des Dröhnens von Trommeln und Muschelhörnern.
Śaṅkara (Śiva)
Tirtha: Bhṛgu-prapāta (as comparative reference)
Type: peak
Scene: A vast battlefield: fluttering dhvajas, conches and dundubhis sounding, warriors falling; at the moment of death, a luminous ascent of the fallen hero’s subtle form occurs instantly, while in side panels ascetics with daṇḍa and seated yogins are shown not reaching that same radiant path; a distant cliff labeled Bhṛgu-prapāta suggests another famed death-site.
FAQs
The Purāṇa elevates dharma-infused वीरमृत्यु (heroic death) as an exceptionally swift path to a high destiny.
Bhṛgu-prapāta is mentioned as a known austerity-site, but the verse’s thrust is the exalted gati of those dying in great battle (contextually tied to the preceding Daśāśvamedha discussion).
No ritual is prescribed; it is a merit-comparison between ascetic acts and death in a great battle.