Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17
तत्त्व द्वारशवर्षाणि तीर्थानामर्बुदेष्वपि । स्नातः किमेतैस्तीर्थैस्ते मा पतंगव्रतो भव
tattva dvāraśavarṣāṇi tīrthānāmarbudeṣvapi | snātaḥ kimetaistīrthaiste mā pataṃgavrato bhava
“ਬਾਰਾਂ ਵਰ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ—ਅਣਗਿਣਤ ਤੀਰਥਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ—ਤੂੰ ਸਨਾਨ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੈਂ। ਫਿਰ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੀਰਥਾਂ ਦੀ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਕੀ ਲੋੜ? ਪਤੰਗ-ਵ੍ਰਤ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਵੱਲ ਨਾ ਦੌੜ।”
Tāpasas (ascetics)
Type: tirtha
Scene: An elder ascetic counts years on prayer-beads while addressing Arjuna; the river glints like firelight, and a moth spirals toward a flame—visual metaphor for reckless attraction.
FAQs
Dharma values discernment: spiritual ambition should not become reckless fascination with danger, even in the name of tīrtha-merit.
The verse refers back to the same perilous five tīrthas, contrasting them with innumerable other tīrthas already visited.
A cautionary restraint: avoid these particular tīrthas; the metaphor warns against a self-destructive ‘vrata’ of rushing into peril.