Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां प्रातः श्राद्धं विधाय च । गणेशान्ब्राह्मणान्नत्वा भुक्त्वा प्रस्थितवान्सुधीः
upoṣya rajanīmekāṃ prātaḥ śrāddhaṃ vidhāya ca | gaṇeśānbrāhmaṇānnatvā bhuktvā prasthitavānsudhīḥ
ਇੱਕ ਰਾਤ ਉਪਵਾਸ ਕਰ ਕੇ, ਸਵੇਰੇ ਸ਼੍ਰਾਦ੍ਹ ਵਿਧੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਫਿਰ ਗਣੇਸ਼ ਜੀ ਅਤੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਕਰ ਕੇ, ਭੋਜਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਹ ਬੁੱਧਿਮਾਨ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਲਈ ਨਿਕਲ ਪਿਆ।
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (journey commencement)
Type: kshetra
Scene: At dawn after a night’s fast, the dvija performs śrāddha with water and sesame, then bows before a Gaṇeśa shrine and respectfully greets brāhmaṇas; afterward he takes a simple meal and steps onto the road with staff and bundle.
FAQs
A sacred journey begins with gratitude and duty—honoring ancestors, seeking auspiciousness, and respecting the brāhmaṇas.
This verse focuses on preparatory rites; the subsequent verses name the pilgrimage tīrthas.
One-night fast (upoṣa), dawn śrāddha, bowing to Gaṇeśa and brāhmaṇas, then taking food before departure.