Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6
माहेश्वरस्य लोकस्य विक्रीणीते ततस्ततः । ततो गृह्णाति नित्यं स हेम मूल्येन तस्य च
māheśvarasya lokasya vikrīṇīte tatastataḥ | tato gṛhṇāti nityaṃ sa hema mūlyena tasya ca
—il les “vendait” sans cesse comme promesse d’accès au monde de Maheśvara, et chaque jour il en prenait de l’or pour prix.
Sūta (contextual continuation)
Listener: Ṛṣayaḥ
Scene: The maṭha-pati sits like a broker, accepting gold from pilgrims while gesturing toward the liṅga, as if selling entry to Maheśvara’s world; pilgrims appear hopeful, the scene tinged with moral darkness.
FAQs
Spiritual attainments are not commodities; exploiting faith for gold is portrayed as adharma.
The verse is part of a tīrtha-context narrative (Vidiśā region), using the sacred frame to critique corrupt religious practice.
No prescription; it describes an unethical practice—selling the ‘benefit’ of Maheśvara’s realm.