Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 77
न तां गतिं यान्ति भृगुप्रपातिनो न दण्डिनो नैव च सांख्ययोगिनः । ध्वजाकुले दुन्दुभिशङ्खनादिते क्षणेन यां यान्ति महाहवे मृताः
na tāṃ gatiṃ yānti bhṛguprapātino na daṇḍino naiva ca sāṃkhyayoginaḥ | dhvajākule dundubhiśaṅkhanādite kṣaṇena yāṃ yānti mahāhave mṛtāḥ
ഭൃഗുപ്രപാതത്തിൽ വീഴുന്നവരും, ദണ്ഡധാരികളായ തപസ്വികളും, സാംഖ്യയോഗികളും പോലും ആ ഗതി പ്രാപിക്കില്ല; ധ്വജങ്ങൾ കുലുങ്ങി, ദുന്ദുഭി-ശംഖനാദം മുഴങ്ങുന്ന മഹായുദ്ധത്തിൽ മരിച്ചവർ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ പ്രാപിക്കുന്ന ഗതിയത്രേ അത്।
Śaṅkara (Śiva)
Tirtha: Bhṛgu-prapāta (as comparative reference)
Type: peak
Scene: A vast battlefield: fluttering dhvajas, conches and dundubhis sounding, warriors falling; at the moment of death, a luminous ascent of the fallen hero’s subtle form occurs instantly, while in side panels ascetics with daṇḍa and seated yogins are shown not reaching that same radiant path; a distant cliff labeled Bhṛgu-prapāta suggests another famed death-site.
FAQs
The Purāṇa elevates dharma-infused वीरमृत्यु (heroic death) as an exceptionally swift path to a high destiny.
Bhṛgu-prapāta is mentioned as a known austerity-site, but the verse’s thrust is the exalted gati of those dying in great battle (contextually tied to the preceding Daśāśvamedha discussion).
No ritual is prescribed; it is a merit-comparison between ascetic acts and death in a great battle.