Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
स्त्रीहत्ययान्वितं ज्ञात्वा ततस्तूर्णमिहागतः । ततो भीष्मो द्रुतं गत्वा तत्र स्थाने समाहितः
strīhatyayānvitaṃ jñātvā tatastūrṇamihāgataḥ | tato bhīṣmo drutaṃ gatvā tatra sthāne samāhitaḥ
Sachant qu’il était accablé par le péché d’avoir tué une femme, Śaṃtanu s’y rendit promptement. Puis Bhīṣma s’y hâta, et en ce lieu il devint recueilli, l’esprit paisible et concentré.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator; reporting events)
Tirtha: Unnamed western-side tīrtha of kṛṣṇāṅgāraka-ṣaṣṭhī
Type: ghat
Scene: Śaṃtanu hastens to aid; Bhīṣma, burdened by sin, reaches the bathing place and becomes calm and focused before the rite.
FAQs
Acknowledging fault and seeking purification with focused mind is upheld as a dharmic response to grave wrongdoing.
The narrative points to the designated place—Śarmiṣṭhā-tīrtha—where Bhīṣma is to perform purificatory rites.
Preparation for prāyaścitta: prompt travel to the tīrtha and mental composure (samādhāna) before bathing and rites.