Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 92
चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु यः कुर्याद्देहशोधनम् । गंगामृतं पिबेद्यस्तु तयोर्गंगाबुपोऽधिकः
cāṃdrāyaṇasahasraṃ tu yaḥ kuryāddehaśodhanam | gaṃgāmṛtaṃ pibedyastu tayorgaṃgābupo'dhikaḥ
ஆயிரம் சாந்திராயண விரதங்களால் உடலைத் தூய்மைப்படுத்தினாலும், கங்கையின் அமுதம் போன்ற நீரைப் பருகுபவன்—அவர்களிருவரிலும் மேலான புண்ணியவான் என அறிவிக்கப்படுகிறான்।
Skanda
Tirtha: Gaṅgā-jala (amṛta)
Type: ghat
Listener: Hara (Śiva) addressed in the verse
Scene: A devotee performs Cāndrāyaṇa austerity in the background (moon phases), contrasted with a simple act of sipping Gaṅgā-water that radiates nectar-like light.
FAQs
Divine grace mediated through Gaṅgā is exalted above even severe penances, emphasizing tīrtha’s salvific power.
Gaṅgā-tīrtha, with Kāśī as the implied sacred setting of the discourse.
Cāndrāyaṇa (a lunar-cycle vow) is referenced; drinking Gaṅgā-water (gaṅgā-pāna) is praised as even more meritorious.