Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 4
स्थिता सुतासु निःश्वसस्य मंदभाग्या वयं त्विति । गतः पुण्यतमांल्लोकानसौ यत्पुण्यवत्तमः
sthitā sutāsu niḥśvasasya maṃdabhāgyā vayaṃ tviti | gataḥ puṇyatamāṃllokānasau yatpuṇyavattamaḥ
സഖിമാരുടെ ഇടയിൽ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് അവർ നെടുവീർപ്പിട്ട് പറഞ്ഞു— “ഞങ്ങൾ തീർച്ചയായും മന്ദഭാഗ്യവതികൾ”; കാരണം ആ പരമപുണ്യവാൻ പുണ്യതമ ലോകങ്ങളിലേക്കു പോയിരിക്കുന്നു।
Agastya (continuing narration; quoted speech of devakanyās)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (typical Purāṇic frame; local scene: companions speaking among themselves)
Scene: A group of companions stand together, heads bowed, exhaling in regret as a radiant path or distant luminous realm is seen beyond, indicating the meritorious one’s ascent.
FAQs
Puṇya is portrayed as a real spiritual capital: it elevates the soul to purer realms, beyond even heavenly longing.
No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it continues the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative that frames such merit as rooted in sacred conduct and pilgrimage.
None is stated; the verse emphasizes the consequence of exceptional merit.