Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
सिद्धिमूल्ये न गृह्णातु कश्चिच्चेदस्ति सात्त्विकः । ततश्च याचते यश्च प्रगृह्णाति च सद्द्विजाः
siddhimūlye na gṛhṇātu kaściccedasti sāttvikaḥ | tataśca yācate yaśca pragṛhṇāti ca saddvijāḥ
Qu’aucun être véritablement sāttvika n’accepte un « prix » pour accorder la siddhi. Et ces brāhmaṇas dignes, ceux qui ensuite la réclament et ceux qui la reçoivent—
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the ṛṣis (deduced)
Tirtha: Citreśvarīpīṭha
Type: kshetra
Scene: A moral admonition scene: a sāttvika pilgrim refuses to pay for ‘siddhi’; a brāhmaṇa intermediary is shown tempted by coins; the temple seat stands luminous, implying that grace cannot be bought.
FAQs
Spiritual power and religious service must not be commercialized; sāttvika conduct rejects taking payment for ‘siddhi’ or religious favors.
The ethical instruction occurs within the Citreśvarīpīṭha/Hāṭakeśvara-liṅga māhātmya context of this adhyāya.
A behavioral rule is given: do not accept or solicit ‘siddhi-mūlya’ (payment for spiritual attainment).