Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 12
काषायवस्त्रैश्च जटाभरैश्च पूर्ताग्निहोत्रैः किमु चान्य मन्त्रैः । धर्मार्थकामवरमोक्षकरीं च भद्रामेकां भजस्व कलिकालविनाशिनीं च
kāṣāyavastraiśca jaṭābharaiśca pūrtāgnihotraiḥ kimu cānya mantraiḥ | dharmārthakāmavaramokṣakarīṃ ca bhadrāmekāṃ bhajasva kalikālavināśinīṃ ca
ਕੇਸਰੀਏ ਵਸਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਜਟਾ-ਭਾਰ ਦਾ ਕੀ ਲਾਭ? ਪੂর্ত-ਕਰਮਾਂ, ਅਗਨਿਹੋਤਰਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਕੀ ਲੋੜ? ਉਸ ਇਕ ਹੀ ਮੰਗਲਮਈ ਵਰਤ-ਉਪਾਸਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਭਜੋ—ਜੋ ਧਰਮ, ਅਰਥ, ਕਾਮ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮ ਮੋਖਸ਼ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਕਲਿਯੁਗ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਸ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ।
Narrative voice (contextual exhortation within Dvārakā Māhātmya; specific speaker not explicit in this verse)
Tirtha: Bhadrā ekā (the single auspicious observance—contextually Viṣṇu-jāgaraṇa/vrata)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A contrast tableau: on one side, ascetics with ochre robes and matted locks performing agnihotra and public works; on the other, a single devotee (or group) worshipping Viṣṇu with lamps and song—above them, the four puruṣārthas and mokṣa symbolically radiate, while a dark ‘Kali’ figure dissolves.
FAQs
A single, auspicious devotional observance is exalted as surpassing external marks and many rites, leading up to mokṣa and relief from Kali-yuga’s harms.
No distinct tīrtha is named in this verse; it emphasizes the greatness of the observance within the Dvārakā Māhātmya frame.
To ‘bhaja’ (embrace/worship) the one ‘bhadrā’ observance that grants the four aims and mokṣa—presented as superior to agnihotra, pūrta, and other mantras.