Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 8
पुरा निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चित्करीटी मणिकूटतः । समुद्रे दक्षिणेऽभ्यागात्स्नातुं तीर्थानि पंच च
purā nimitte kasmiṃścitkarīṭī maṇikūṭataḥ | samudre dakṣiṇe'bhyāgātsnātuṃ tīrthāni paṃca ca
Pada suatu ketika dahulu, sang wira yang bermahkota berangkat dari Maṇikūṭa dan tiba di lautan selatan, dengan niat untuk mandi suci di lima tīrtha.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages
Tirtha: Pañca-tīrtha (cluster at the southern ocean)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sages
Scene: A crowned warrior-pilgrim departs a jewel-like hill (Maṇikūṭa), travels southward, and arrives at a vast ocean shore with five marked sacred bathing spots—flags, small shrines, and sages indicating each tīrtha.
FAQs
A seeker intentionally approaches tīrthas for purifying snāna, showing that sacred geography is a doorway to dharma and inner cleansing.
The verse introduces five tīrthas associated with the southern ocean region, setting the stage for their names and greatness in the following verses.
Snāna (ritual bathing) at five tīrthas is the stated religious act.