Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 30
ततोपि न तदुत्साहभंगोभूद्दृढचेतसः । मध्ये मार्गं मृतस्यापि गुरोरिव गतिर्मम
tatopi na tadutsāhabhaṃgobhūddṛḍhacetasaḥ | madhye mārgaṃ mṛtasyāpi guroriva gatirmama
Mesmo assim, o ardor do de mente firme não se quebrou. Para mim, seu curso foi como o de um mestre—embora já morto—guiando o caminho no próprio meio da jornada.
Caṇḍikā (Devī), narrating to Skanda/Agastya-context audience
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim continues along a dusty path at mid-journey, eyes steady, holding a staff and prayer-beads; a subtle, luminous presence of the departed guru appears as a guiding line of light or a faint silhouette ahead, indicating ‘gati’ (course) as guidance.
FAQs
Steadfast resolve (dṛḍha-citta) does not collapse; even the memory and guidance of a guru continues to direct one’s dharmic path.
The wider passage belongs to the Kāśī Khaṇḍa and moves toward the glorification of Kedāra within Kāśī’s sacred geography.
No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; it emphasizes inner discipline and guru-oriented perseverance.