Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 62
न तत्क्षेत्रं न तत्तीर्थमूषरं पुष्कराणि च । ब्राह्मणे मन्युमुत्पाद्य यत्र गत्वा स शुध्यति
na tatkṣetraṃ na tattīrthamūṣaraṃ puṣkarāṇi ca | brāhmaṇe manyumutpādya yatra gatvā sa śudhyati
Tiada kṣetra suci, tiada tīrtha—bahkan tanah gersang atau Puṣkara sekalipun—yang dapat menyucikan seseorang jika sebelumnya dia membangkitkan kemurkaan seorang Brāhmaṇa.
Jagannātha (continuing speech in context)
Tirtha: Puṣkara (as exemplar)
Type: kund
Scene: A pilgrim stands at the edge of a radiant tīrtha-lake/ghāṭ, yet a dark cloud of offense clings to him; brāhmaṇas appear stern, and the water’s glow does not touch the pilgrim until he bows in contrition.
FAQs
Pilgrimage cannot override ethical wrongdoing—offending a Brāhmaṇa blocks purification until the fault is addressed.
Puṣkara is referenced as a famed tīrtha, but the verse teaches that even renowned sites cannot purify one guilty of brāhmaṇa-offense.
Avoid brāhmaṇa-aparādha; purification requires first removing the cause—seeking forgiveness and restoring dharma—before relying on tīrtha travel.