Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 100
ततः प्रभृति राजेंद्र समागत्यात्र मानवाः । रत्नदीपान्प्रदायोच्चैः स्नात्वाऽत्र सलिले शुभे । कार्तिके मासि निर्यांति देहांते त्रिदिवालयम्
tataḥ prabhṛti rājeṃdra samāgatyātra mānavāḥ | ratnadīpānpradāyoccaiḥ snātvā'tra salile śubhe | kārtike māsi niryāṃti dehāṃte tridivālayam
Sejak saat itu, wahai raja, manusia datang ke sini; dengan penuh hormat mempersembahkan pelita berhias permata dan mandi dalam air yang suci lagi bertuah ini. Pada akhir hayat—terutama pada bulan Kārtika—mereka berangkat ke kediaman syurga.
Narrator addressing a king (rājendra) within the Mahatmya frame
Type: ghat
Listener: a king (rājendra)
Scene: Pilgrims arrive at a sacred waterbody; at twilight they bathe and place jeweled lamps that glitter on the water’s surface; the month of Kārtika is suggested by clear skies and festive lamps.
FAQs
Pilgrimage combined with charity (lamp-offering) and ritual bathing, especially in Kārtika, is celebrated as a direct path to exalted posthumous destiny.
The tīrtha ‘here’ in Nāgarakhaṇḍa (this auspicious water-body) where snāna and dīpa-dāna are said to yield heavenly attainment.
Ratna-dīpa dāna (offering lamps), snāna (bathing) in the sacred water, with special emphasis on observance in the month of Kārtika.