Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23
यस्तु केदारमुद्दिश्य गेहादर्धपथेप्यहो । अकातरस्त्यजेत्प्राणान्कैलासे स चिरं वसेत्
yastu kedāramuddiśya gehādardhapathepyaho | akātarastyajetprāṇānkailāse sa ciraṃ vaset
જે કેદારના ઉદ્દેશથી ઘરેથી નીકળીને અર્ધમાર્ગમાં પણ—અકાતર અને અડગ રહી—પ્રાણ ત્યાગે, તે લાંબા સમય સુધી કૈલાસમાં વસે છે.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣi-audience
Scene: A pilgrim sets out from home with staff and waterpot, eyes fixed on distant snowy peaks labeled Kedāra. Midway, the pilgrim falls peacefully, still gripping prayer beads; above, a luminous path opens toward Kailāsa.
FAQs
Saṅkalpa (holy intention) and steadfastness sanctify the journey; even an unfinished pilgrimage can yield great fruit.
Kedāra is praised as a destination so meritorious that even setting out toward it grants Kailāsa-fruit.
A pilgrimage vow/undertaking (yātrā-saṅkalpa) toward Kedāra, emphasizing fearlessness and resolve.