Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 42
अथ पंथानमाक्रम्य कियंतमपि स द्विजः । मुहूर्तं पथि विश्रम्याचिंतयत्प्राक्क्व याम्यहम्
atha paṃthānamākramya kiyaṃtamapi sa dvijaḥ | muhūrtaṃ pathi viśramyāciṃtayatprākkva yāmyaham
अथ पन्थानमाक्रम्य कियन्तमपि स द्विजः। पथि मुहूर्तं विश्रम्य प्राक् चिन्तयामास—क्व याम्यहम्॥
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Scene: A lone pilgrim on a dusty road rests under a tree or at a small roadside shrine, staff beside him, gazing ahead with a questioning expression as he weighs the first destination.
FAQs
Pilgrimage is guided by discernment; the seeker reflects before choosing the sacred route.
None explicitly in this verse; it introduces the sequence of tīrthas that follow.
No ritual is prescribed; it depicts a contemplative pause (viśrāma) and resolve.