Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 19
ध्यानं कृते मोक्षहेतुस्त्रेतायां तच्च वै तपः । द्वापरे तद्द्वयं यज्ञाः कलौ गंगैव केवलम्
dhyānaṃ kṛte mokṣahetustretāyāṃ tacca vai tapaḥ | dvāpare taddvayaṃ yajñāḥ kalau gaṃgaiva kevalam
କୃତଯୁଗରେ ଧ୍ୟାନ ମୋକ୍ଷହେତୁ; ତ୍ରେତାଯୁଗରେ ସେହି ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ତପସ୍ୟାରେ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ। ଦ୍ୱାପରେ ଉଭୟ ଯଜ୍ଞରୂପେ ଫଳେ; କଳିଯୁଗରେ କେବଳ ଗଙ୍ଗାହିଁ ମୋକ୍ଷୋପାୟ।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa often Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: river
Listener: Audience within Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s dialogue frame
Scene: Four spiritual disciplines depicted as yuga emblems: Kṛta—sage in deep meditation; Tretā—ascetic in tapas; Dvāpara—yajña with fire and offerings; Kali—pilgrims bathing in Gaṅgā with hands raised in prayer, the river shining like liquid light.
FAQs
The verse teaches yuga-appropriate sādhanā: in Kali-yuga, Gaṅgā is praised as the most effective support for liberation.
Gaṅgā is exalted as the decisive tīrtha/sādhana for Kali-yuga.
Implicitly, Gaṅgā-centered practice (snāna, sevā, remembrance) is recommended as Kali-yuga’s principal means.