Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 85
वापीकूपतडागानां कर्तारश्च सहस्रशः । व्रतशीला गुणज्ञाश्च मूर्खा वेदविवर्जिताः
vāpīkūpataḍāgānāṃ kartāraśca sahasraśaḥ | vrataśīlā guṇajñāśca mūrkhā vedavivarjitāḥ
അവർ ആയിരങ്ങളായി വാപി, കിണർ, തടാകം എന്നിവ നിർമ്മിക്കുന്നവരാകുന്നു. വ്രതശീലരും ഗുണജ്ഞരുമായിട്ടും, മന്ദബുദ്ധികളും വേദവിദ്യാവിഹീനരുമെന്ന് പറയപ്പെടുന്നു.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice addressing a king)
Type: kund/ghat
Scene: A bustling civic-religious scene: artisans and donors constructing a stepwell and tank; pilgrims drawing water; vow-observant donors; a subtle note of rustic simplicity despite lack of Vedic learning.
FAQs
Public welfare and vow-keeping are praised, but the text also stresses the importance of grounding virtue in sacred knowledge.
No single tirtha is named; the verse highlights dharmic acts that support pilgrims and communities (waterworks).
Vrata (vows/observances) and the dharmic merit of constructing water facilities like wells, ponds, and stepwells.