Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 86
प्रायश्चित्तानि सर्वाणि कृत्वा च विधिवत्पुनः । अपश्चात्तापिनो नार्या न यांति गतिमुत्तमाम्
prāyaścittāni sarvāṇi kṛtvā ca vidhivatpunaḥ | apaścāttāpino nāryā na yāṃti gatimuttamām
„Selbst wenn man alle vorgeschriebenen Sühnen ordnungsgemäß vollzogen hat, gelangen jene ohne Reue nicht zum höchsten Zustand.“
Brāhmaṇa (unnamed)
Scene: A contrast tableau: one figure performs elaborate rites with pride; another, simpler, with genuine remorse. The guru points to the remorseful one as truly progressing.
FAQs
External penances alone are insufficient; without sincere remorse, the highest spiritual attainment is not reached.
No holy site is mentioned in this verse.
Prāyaścittas performed vidhivat (according to rule) are referenced, but the verse stresses the necessity of repentance to make them fruitful.