Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 63
सुगंधकेतकी चापि अयोग्या त्वं शिवार्चने । भविष्यसि न संदेहो अनृता चैव भामिनि
sugaṃdhaketakī cāpi ayogyā tvaṃ śivārcane | bhaviṣyasi na saṃdeho anṛtā caiva bhāmini
Et toi aussi, Ketakī au parfum suave—sans nul doute—tu deviendras indigne du culte de Śiva, car tu as proféré le mensonge, ô dame.
The assembled gods (Devas) pronouncing a curse (contextual deduction)
Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrimage audience
Scene: Ketakī, personified as a fragrant lady, is addressed and declared unfit for Śiva worship; the flower’s beauty contrasts with the moral stain of untruth; devas stand as witnesses to the new ritual rule.
FAQs
Ritual offerings must be rooted in truthfulness; deceit disqualifies even a sacred fragrance from worship.
The Kedāra section frames the narrative; the verse is about Śiva-arcana norms rather than a particular tirtha’s merit.
A rule by consequence: Ketakī becomes unfit to be used in Śiva worship.