Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 94
उद्धृत्य पंच मृत्पिंडान्स्नायात्परजलाशये । अनुद्धृत्य च तत्कर्तुरेनसः स्यात्तुरीयभाक्
uddhṛtya paṃca mṛtpiṃḍānsnāyātparajalāśaye | anuddhṛtya ca tatkarturenasaḥ syātturīyabhāk
Having lifted out five clods of earth (from the water), one may bathe in another person’s pond or reservoir. But if one bathes without doing so, the bather incurs a fourth part of the sin belonging to the one who caused that impurity.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)
Type: kund
Scene: At a quiet pond near Kāśī, a pilgrim respectfully lifts five small clods from the water’s edge before entering to bathe; a local caretaker watches approvingly; purity symbols (lotus, clear water) emphasize śauca.
FAQs
Even ordinary acts like bathing require dharmic mindfulness; negligence can make one share in another’s wrongdoing.
The guidance is framed within Kāśī’s dharma-instructions for pilgrims, where ritual acts are treated as spiritually consequential.
Before bathing in another’s pond, lift out five clods of earth; otherwise one incurs a ‘one-fourth share’ of the relevant sin.