Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 36
जायंते च म्रियंते च जलेष्वेव जलौकसः । न च गच्छंति ते स्वर्गमविशुद्धमनोमलाः
jāyaṃte ca mriyaṃte ca jaleṣveva jalaukasaḥ | na ca gacchaṃti te svargamaviśuddhamanomalāḥ
Wasserbewohner werden im Wasser geboren und sterben im Wasser; doch gelangen sie nicht in den Himmel, denn der Makel ihres Geistes ist nicht gereinigt.
Skanda
Tirtha: Gaṅgā in Kāśī (implied)
Type: ghat
Scene: Fish and turtles glide in the river while a human pilgrim reflects on the steps; above, a faint celestial path indicates that ascent is barred by mental impurity, not by lack of water-contact.
FAQs
Constant contact with sacred water is not enough; spiritual ascent requires purified intention and mind.
The verse speaks generally of water and purity; in Kāśīkhaṇḍa it frames Kāśī’s sacred waters as effective only with inner cleansing.
It implicitly corrects snāna-practice: bathe with inner purification rather than relying on water alone.