Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 135
अर्चिर्धूमश्च मार्गौ द्वावाहुर्वेदांतवादिनः । अर्चिषा याति मोक्षं च धूमेनावर्तते पुनः
arcirdhūmaśca mārgau dvāvāhurvedāṃtavādinaḥ | arciṣā yāti mokṣaṃ ca dhūmenāvartate punaḥ
Vedānta-teachers speak of two paths: the path of light (arci) and the path of smoke (dhūma). By the path of light one goes to liberation; by the path of smoke one returns again (to rebirth).
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)
Scene: A luminous bifurcating sky-road: one path of radiant flames and stars ascending to a serene, formless light; the other a smoky, moonlit path looping back toward earth and womb imagery. A subtle figure-soul travels upward.
FAQs
Spiritual destiny follows distinct paths: realization leads to liberation, while lesser attainment leads to return to samsara.
No tīrtha is named; the verse presents a Vedāntic doctrine of post-mortem paths.
No explicit ritual is detailed; it points to the higher path culminating in mokṣa versus a path leading to rebirth.