Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 161
यदि संनिधिमात्रेण फलं तत्रोच्यते कथम् । यदि शंतनुवंशस्य तत्रोन्मादकरं भवेत्
yadi saṃnidhimātreṇa phalaṃ tatrocyate katham | yadi śaṃtanuvaṃśasya tatronmādakaraṃ bhavet
«Si l’on dit que là-bas le fruit naît de la seule proximité, comment cela serait-il possible ? Et si tel était le cas, pour la lignée de Śaṃtanu ce serait cause de délire et d’égarement.»
Divya-vāṇī (continuing speech; rhetorical clarification)
Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)
Type: river
Listener: Vāk (or the explaining authority)
Scene: A questioning interlocutor challenges the doctrine: a king or courtly figure gestures in inquiry; behind him, a faint genealogical motif (Śaṃtanu line) suggests the example; the river remains as silent witness.
FAQs
Purāṇic teaching distinguishes mere physical proximity from purposeful observance—merit depends on rite, faith, and right action.
The discussion belongs to the Revā Khaṇḍa’s tīrtha-phala context, though no single named tīrtha is specified in this verse.
It implicitly stresses that results are not from mere presence alone, but from properly performed prescribed worship and charity.