Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 52
गंगास्नानार्थमुद्युक्तो मध्येमार्गं मृतो यदि । गंगास्नानफलं सोपि तदाप्नोति न संशयः
gaṃgāsnānārthamudyukto madhyemārgaṃ mṛto yadi | gaṃgāsnānaphalaṃ sopi tadāpnoti na saṃśayaḥ
Se alguém parte com o propósito de banhar-se no Gaṅgā e morre no meio do caminho, ainda assim alcança o fruto do banho no Gaṅgā; não há dúvida.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā (Kāśī-Gaṅgā)
Type: river
Scene: A pilgrim sets out with water-pot and staff, eyes fixed on the imagined Gaṅgā; he collapses on the road while celestial beings (or Gaṅgā’s grace) acknowledge his saṅkalpa; distant vision of Kāśī ghāṭas and flowing river appears as a luminous promise.
FAQs
Sincere intention (saṅkalpa) toward a sacred act carries spiritual efficacy, even if the act is interrupted by death.
The Gaṅgā tīrtha, approached as a pilgrimage destination within the Kāśī framework.
Undertaking pilgrimage for Gaṅgā-snāna; the verse highlights the merit of the vow/intention itself.