Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 78
शाणेन मणिवल्लीढा कृशाप्यायादनर्घताम् । तथापि तपसा क्षामा दिदीपे तत्तनुस्तराम्
śāṇena maṇivallīḍhā kṛśāpyāyādanarghatām | tathāpi tapasā kṣāmā didīpe tattanustarām
Seperti sulur permata yang digilap batu asah—meski menipis namun menjadi tak ternilai—demikian juga dia, walau kurus oleh tapa, mencapai kemuliaan yang tiada banding; dan meski susut oleh pertapaan, tubuhnya kian bersinar.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative voice)
Scene: A thin ascetic maiden glowing with an inner light; the simile of a jewel-creeper polished by a whetstone is visualized as a luminous vine motif behind her, suggesting refinement through friction.
FAQs
Austerity may reduce the body, but it increases spiritual worth and inner luminosity—like a gem refined by polishing.
The verse serves the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s praise of purification; it does not identify a particular tīrtha by name.
No formal ritual is listed; the practice emphasized is sustained tapas leading to purification and radiance.