Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 17
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण न तां गच्छन्ति सद्गतिम् । शुक्लतीर्थे मृतो जन्तुर्देहत्यागेन यां लभेत्
tapasā brahmacaryeṇa na tāṃ gacchanti sadgatim | śuklatīrthe mṛto janturdehatyāgena yāṃ labhet
तप व ब्रह्मचर्यानेही लोकांना ती सद्गती मिळत नाही; शुक्लतीर्थी देहत्याग करून मरणारा जीव जी गती सहज पावतो तीच श्रेष्ठ आहे।
Skanda (deduced)
Tirtha: Śuklatīrtha
Type: kshetra
Scene: A serene passing: an aged pilgrim lies on the riverbank at Śuklatīrtha, hearing mantras; as breath leaves, a luminous path rises from the Narmadā toward a radiant realm, suggesting a ‘sadgati’ beyond ascetic attainments.
FAQs
The Purāṇa magnifies the spiritual power of a holy place: tīrtha-prabhāva can surpass even severe personal asceticism.
Śuklatīrtha is praised as granting exceptional sadgati even at the time of death.
No specific rite; the focus is on the fruit of dehatyāga (dying) at Śuklatīrtha.