Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45
यथा न गंगां यात्येष तथा विघ्नं प्रकुर्महे । गंगां गतो यथा चैष न उच्छित्तिं विधास्यति
yathā na gaṃgāṃ yātyeṣa tathā vighnaṃ prakurmahe | gaṃgāṃ gato yathā caiṣa na ucchittiṃ vidhāsyati
«Dressons des obstacles pour qu’il n’aille pas à la Gaṅgā; et même s’il atteint la Gaṅgā, qu’il n’opère pas notre anéantissement total»—ainsi complotent-ils.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: river
Listener: null
Scene: Dark figures of ‘Pāpa’ and ‘Vighna’ set snares on a road—storm clouds, broken bridges, tempting taverns—while the pilgrim, protected by mantra and faith, walks forward; the Gaṅgā’s light breaks through ahead.
FAQs
Negative tendencies resist holy pilgrimage; perseverance toward the Gaṅgā is implied as the remedy.
The Gaṅgā as the liberating tīrtha whose approach terrifies sin.
Implicit guidance: do not yield to vighnas; continue the Gaṅgā-yātrā.