Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
ततो रात्रिः क्षयं याति वर्धते तु दिनं दिनम् । ततश्च मिथुनस्यांते परां काष्ठामुपागतः
tato rātriḥ kṣayaṃ yāti vardhate tu dinaṃ dinam | tataśca mithunasyāṃte parāṃ kāṣṭhāmupāgataḥ
ତାପରେ ରାତି କ୍ଷୟ ପାଏ ଏବଂ ଦିନ ଦିନକୁ ଦିନ ବଢ଼ିଯାଏ। ପରେ ମିଥୁନର ଶେଷରେ ସେ ପରମ କାଷ୍ଠାକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚନ୍ତି—ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଉତ୍ତରଗତିର ସର୍ବୋଚ୍ଚ ସୀମାକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।
Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced; Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to sages)
Tirtha: Uttarāyaṇa-uttama-kāla approaching (time-tīrtha)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A horizon sequence showing nights shrinking and days expanding; Sūrya climbing higher each panel; at Mithuna’s end, Sūrya near the zenith with Gemini symbol subtly present.
FAQs
Growth and decline are lawful movements of time; recognizing cycles helps one live with discipline and reverence for cosmic order.
No tīrtha is named; the focus is on the Sun’s seasonal progression.
None stated; the verse provides calendrical grounding often used to time dharmic observances.