Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 73
गुरोरभावे तत्पुत्रं तद्भार्यां तत्सुतं विना । पुत्रं प्रपौत्रं दौहित्रं ह्यन्यं वा तत्कुलोद्भवम्
gurorabhāve tatputraṃ tadbhāryāṃ tatsutaṃ vinā | putraṃ prapautraṃ dauhitraṃ hyanyaṃ vā tatkulodbhavam
En l’absence du guru, qu’on s’en remette à son fils —à l’exclusion de l’épouse du guru et de l’enfant mineur—; ou au fils de son fils, ou au fils de sa fille, ou à tout autre issu de cette lignée.
Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya didactic narration context)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim seeks the absent guru; elders indicate the guru’s grown son/grandson as the proper person to approach. A family lineage tree motif or sequential figures suggests paramparā continuity.
FAQs
Reverence to the guru extends to appropriate representatives in his lineage when the guru is unavailable.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra is the narrative frame; the verse itself teaches dharma to be practiced by pilgrims and householders.
It implies whom to approach/honor (and potentially offer dāna to) in the guru’s absence, prioritizing lineage.