Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 4
भूतं भावि भवच्चापि संशयं मा वृथा कृथाः । इत्युक्त्वा पुनराहेशो गंगामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
bhūtaṃ bhāvi bhavaccāpi saṃśayaṃ mā vṛthā kṛthāḥ | ityuktvā punarāheśo gaṃgāmāhātmyamuttamam
Whether concerning the past, the future, or the present—do not raise doubt in vain. Having said this, the Lord again spoke the supreme greatness of the Gaṅgā.
Śiva
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: river
Listener: Pārvatī
Scene: Śiva concludes a firm admonition against doubt about past/future/present and turns to narrate the supreme greatness of Gaṅgā.
FAQs
Faithful listening to sacred narration is encouraged; needless skepticism is discouraged when the teaching is rooted in dharma tradition.
Gaṅgā as the preeminent tīrtha, particularly as celebrated in Kāśī Khaṇḍa.
No explicit rite; it signals the beginning/continuation of Gaṅgā’s praise and sacred account.