Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 62
न तत्क्षेत्रं न तत्तीर्थमूषरं पुष्कराणि च । ब्राह्मणे मन्युमुत्पाद्य यत्र गत्वा स शुध्यति
na tatkṣetraṃ na tattīrthamūṣaraṃ puṣkarāṇi ca | brāhmaṇe manyumutpādya yatra gatvā sa śudhyati
அத்தகைய க்ஷேத்திரமும் இல்லை, அத்தகைய தீர்த்தமும் இல்லை—பாழ்நிலமோ புஷ்கரமோ கூட—பிராமணரின் கோபத்தை எழுப்பி சென்றவன் அங்கே தூய்மையடையான்.
Jagannātha (continuing speech in context)
Tirtha: Puṣkara (as exemplar)
Type: kund
Scene: A pilgrim stands at the edge of a radiant tīrtha-lake/ghāṭ, yet a dark cloud of offense clings to him; brāhmaṇas appear stern, and the water’s glow does not touch the pilgrim until he bows in contrition.
FAQs
Pilgrimage cannot override ethical wrongdoing—offending a Brāhmaṇa blocks purification until the fault is addressed.
Puṣkara is referenced as a famed tīrtha, but the verse teaches that even renowned sites cannot purify one guilty of brāhmaṇa-offense.
Avoid brāhmaṇa-aparādha; purification requires first removing the cause—seeking forgiveness and restoring dharma—before relying on tīrtha travel.