Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3
स मृतोऽप्ययने याम्ये तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । प्राप्नोति नात्र संदेहस्तत्प्रभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः
sa mṛto'pyayane yāmye tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam | prāpnoti nātra saṃdehastatprabhāvāddvijottamāḥ
Même s’il venait à mourir durant la course méridionale, il atteint la demeure suprême de ce Seigneur Viṣṇu. Il n’y a nul doute, ô meilleurs des deux-fois-nés : telle est la puissance de ce lieu et de son culte.
Sūta (contextual continuation)
Tirtha: Viṣṇupada
Type: ghat
Listener: Dvijottamāḥ (assembled brāhmaṇa sages)
Scene: A devotee worships at Viṣṇupada; the scene transitions to a visionary ascent: a radiant path leading to Viṣṇu’s supreme abode (paramaṃ padam), with Vaikuṇṭha-like imagery—lotus, conch, discus—while the earthly sun indicates dakṣiṇāyana.
FAQs
Devotion at a powerful tirtha is presented as capable of leading the soul to Viṣṇu’s highest state, transcending fear of death and timing.
Viṣṇupada-tīrtha and its extraordinary spiritual efficacy.
Implicitly, worship and self-dedication at the tirtha; the verse highlights the fruit (paramaṃ padam) even if death occurs in Dakṣiṇāyana.