Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 142
अंतरेण न गच्छेन द्वयोर्ज्वलनलिंगयोः । नाग्न्योर्न विप्रयोश्चैव न दंपत्योर्नृपोत्तम
aṃtareṇa na gacchena dvayorjvalanaliṃgayoḥ | nāgnyorna viprayoścaiva na daṃpatyornṛpottama
Ô roi excellent, qu’on ne passe pas entre deux feux ; ni entre deux feux sacrés ; ni entre deux brahmanes ; ni entre l’époux et l’épouse.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages
Listener: nṛpottama (a king)
Scene: A king approaches a yajña pavilion; two blazing fires/altars stand aligned; he respectfully circumambulates instead of crossing between them. Nearby, two brāhmaṇas sit in Vedic recitation; a couple stands together; the king keeps respectful distance.
FAQs
Respect for sacred presences and human bonds is dharma; one avoids actions that symbolically ‘divide’ what should not be divided.
No tīrtha is mentioned; it is a general rule of reverential conduct.
A behavioral injunction: do not walk between two fires (especially sacred fires), between brāhmaṇas, or between spouses.