Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14
किमर्थं ब्रूत वर्ज्यंते सदैव ब्रह्मवादिभिः । तापसा ऊचुः । ग्राहः पंच वसंत्येषु हरंति च तपोधनान्
kimarthaṃ brūta varjyaṃte sadaiva brahmavādibhiḥ | tāpasā ūcuḥ | grāhaḥ paṃca vasaṃtyeṣu haraṃti ca tapodhanān
“ബ്രഹ്മവാദികൾ ഇവയെ എപ്പോഴും എന്തുകൊണ്ട് ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നു? പറയുക.” തപസ്വികൾ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഇവയിൽ അഞ്ചു ഗ്രാഹങ്ങൾ (മുതലകൾ) വസിക്കുന്നു; അവ തപോധനരെ പിടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോകുന്നു.”
Tāpasas (ascetics), replying to the Kuru hero
Tirtha: Five tīrthas (each with a resident crocodile)
Type: kund
Scene: Ascetics explain to the pilgrim while pointing to five pools; beneath each surface a crocodile silhouette lurks; the contrast between serene holy water and sudden danger is central.
FAQs
Sacred waters can be simultaneously holy and perilous; dharma requires humility, caution, and respect for the forces guarding tīrthas.
The five tīrthas in the southern ocean region, noted for their power yet feared due to resident grāhas.
No new rite is prescribed; the verse provides a cautionary reason affecting the practice of snāna at these tīrthas.