Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 59
घट्टान्पुण्यतटिन्यादेर्बंधयंति शिलादिभिः । तोयार्थिसुखसिद्ध्यर्थं ये नरास्तेत्र भोगिनः
ghaṭṭānpuṇyataṭinyāderbaṃdhayaṃti śilādibhiḥ | toyārthisukhasiddhyarthaṃ ye narāstetra bhoginaḥ
Aqueles homens que, com pedras e semelhantes, constroem ghāṭas, degraus de banho, em rios sagrados e outras águas santas, para o conforto e a plena realização dos que buscam água—esses tornam-se desfrutadores de prosperidade ali.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśī Khaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā-ghāṭas of Kāśī (generalized to puṇya-taṭinīs)
Type: ghat
Listener: Ṛṣis/śrotṛ-gaṇa (contextual)
Scene: Pilgrims descend newly built stone steps into a sacred river; masons place slabs; donors offer waterpots and lamps; the river glows at dawn with temple spires behind.
FAQs
Public service done for pilgrims—especially ensuring access to sacred water—becomes a powerful source of merit and auspicious reward.
Kāśī’s sacred riverfront culture (ghāṭas on holy rivers), a hallmark of Kāśī Māhātmya within the Skanda Purāṇa.
Constructing ghāṭas/bathing access on holy waters as a form of dharmic dāna-sevā (charitable infrastructure for pilgrims).