Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3
दानं वाऽथ व्रतंवाऽथ मंत्रःस्तोत्रजपोऽथवा । तीर्थांतराभिषेको वा देवतोपासनं तु वा
dānaṃ vā'tha vrataṃvā'tha maṃtraḥstotrajapo'thavā | tīrthāṃtarābhiṣeko vā devatopāsanaṃ tu vā
தானமோ, விரதமோ, மந்திர-ஸ்தோத்திர ஜபமோ; அல்லது வேறு தீர்த்தத்தில் அபிஷேக ஸ்நானமோ; அல்லது தேவதா உபாசனையோ—இவற்றில் ஏதாவது வழி உள்ளதா?
Agastya
Scene: A questioning sage enumerates practices—charity, vows, japa, stotra, other tīrtha baths, deity worship—like a garland of options offered to the listener.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma recognizes multiple valid practices—charity, vows, mantra-japa, worship—that can convey tīrtha-like merit.
The Gaṅgā remains the implied standard; other tīrthas are mentioned as possible substitutes (tīrthāntara).
Dāna, vrata, mantra/stotra-japa, tīrthāntara-abhiṣeka (bathing at other tīrthas), and devatā-upāsanā.