Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
सिद्धिमूल्ये न गृह्णातु कश्चिच्चेदस्ति सात्त्विकः । ततश्च याचते यश्च प्रगृह्णाति च सद्द्विजाः
siddhimūlye na gṛhṇātu kaściccedasti sāttvikaḥ | tataśca yācate yaśca pragṛhṇāti ca saddvijāḥ
Janganlah seorang pun yang sungguh sāttvika menerima ‘harga’ sebagai imbalan pemberian siddhi. Dan kemudian, para dvija yang meminta serta yang menerimanya—(mereka pun tercela dalam hal itu).
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the ṛṣis (deduced)
Tirtha: Citreśvarīpīṭha
Type: kshetra
Scene: A moral admonition scene: a sāttvika pilgrim refuses to pay for ‘siddhi’; a brāhmaṇa intermediary is shown tempted by coins; the temple seat stands luminous, implying that grace cannot be bought.
FAQs
Spiritual power and religious service must not be commercialized; sāttvika conduct rejects taking payment for ‘siddhi’ or religious favors.
The ethical instruction occurs within the Citreśvarīpīṭha/Hāṭakeśvara-liṅga māhātmya context of this adhyāya.
A behavioral rule is given: do not accept or solicit ‘siddhi-mūlya’ (payment for spiritual attainment).