Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 75
तिष्ठंति राजसा मध्ये ह्यधो गच्छंति तामसाः । सत्त्वाहारैः सत्त्ववृत्त्या स्वर्गगामी भवेत्ततः
tiṣṭhaṃti rājasā madhye hyadho gacchaṃti tāmasāḥ | sattvāhāraiḥ sattvavṛttyā svargagāmī bhavettataḥ
ರಜೋಗುಣದಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಿತರಾದವರು ಮಧ್ಯಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ; ತಮೋಗುಣಾಧೀನರು ಅಧೋಗತಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಸಾತ್ತ್ವಿಕ ಆಹಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾತ್ತ್ವಿಕ ವೃತ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಗಾಮಿ ಆಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa convention)
Scene: Tripartite allegory: three paths—one smoky/dark descending (tamas), one busy marketplace-like level path (rajas), one bright lotus-lined ascending stairway (sattva) with pilgrims carrying waterpots and prayer beads.
FAQs
Cultivating sattva—especially through food and conduct—uplifts one’s destiny, while tamas leads downward.
No specific tīrtha is praised; it is a general ethical-spiritual teaching.
A practical observance is implied: adopting sāttvika āhāra (diet) and sāttvika vṛtti (conduct).