Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 45
यथा न गंगां यात्येष तथा विघ्नं प्रकुर्महे । गंगां गतो यथा चैष न उच्छित्तिं विधास्यति
yathā na gaṃgāṃ yātyeṣa tathā vighnaṃ prakurmahe | gaṃgāṃ gato yathā caiṣa na ucchittiṃ vidhāsyati
‘இவன் கங்கைக்கு செல்லாதபடி தடைகள் செய்வோம்; சென்றாலும் எங்கள் முழு அழிவை ஏற்படுத்த விடமாட்டோம்’—என்று அவர்கள் திட்டமிடுகின்றனர்।
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: river
Listener: null
Scene: Dark figures of ‘Pāpa’ and ‘Vighna’ set snares on a road—storm clouds, broken bridges, tempting taverns—while the pilgrim, protected by mantra and faith, walks forward; the Gaṅgā’s light breaks through ahead.
FAQs
Negative tendencies resist holy pilgrimage; perseverance toward the Gaṅgā is implied as the remedy.
The Gaṅgā as the liberating tīrtha whose approach terrifies sin.
Implicit guidance: do not yield to vighnas; continue the Gaṅgā-yātrā.