Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 5
क्षेत्राणि सरितश्चैव पर्वताश्च नदा स्तथा । ऋषीणां तपसो वीर्यान्माहात्म्यं परमं गताः
kṣetrāṇi saritaścaiva parvatāśca nadā stathā | ṛṣīṇāṃ tapaso vīryānmāhātmyaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ
पवित्र क्षेत्र, नदियाँ, पर्वत तथा सरिताएँ—ऋषियों के तप के तेज से परम माहात्म्य और कीर्ति को प्राप्त होते हैं।
Sūta (narrative voice; implied)
Listener: Ṛṣis
Scene: A poetic tableau of sages performing austerities on riverbanks and mountain caves; their tapas radiates as light that sanctifies the surrounding kṣetra, turning ordinary nature into a tīrtha.
FAQs
Holy places become supremely sanctified through the spiritual power (tapas) of realized sages.
The verse sets the principle behind tīrtha-glory in general, preparing for Arbuda’s specific māhātmya.
No specific rite is prescribed; the verse emphasizes tapas as the source of sanctity.