Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 12
केषु स्थानेषु तीर्थेषु पूजनीया सरिद्वरा । तीर्थानि च पृथग्ब्रूहि यत्र संनिहितो हरः
keṣu sthāneṣu tīrtheṣu pūjanīyā saridvarā | tīrthāni ca pṛthagbrūhi yatra saṃnihito haraḥ
En quels lieux et quels tīrtha faut-il vénérer cette souveraine des rivières ? Dis-moi distinctement les tīrtha où Hara (Śiva) demeure tout particulièrement.
An inquiring sage (listener) within the Revā Khaṇḍa dialogue
Tirtha: Revā/Narmadā tīrthas (introductory query)
Type: river
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (explicit)
Scene: A royal inquirer (Yudhiṣṭhira) respectfully questions a sage about the Narmadā’s worship-sites and the tīrthas where Śiva is specially present; the river is suggested as a luminous ribbon behind them.
FAQs
Pilgrimage is not random wandering; it is guided by loci of divine presence (sannidhi), especially where Śiva is said to abide.
The verse points broadly to Narmadā tīrthas, particularly those marked by Śiva’s presence; specific names are expected in subsequent verses.
Worship (pūjā) of the river-Goddess at designated tīrthas is implied, though no procedure is specified here.