Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
पंचरात्रं वसिष्यामो वयं तत्र समाहिताः । तस्माद्वह्निषु दारेषु रक्षा कार्या स्वशक्तितः
paṃcarātraṃ vasiṣyāmo vayaṃ tatra samāhitāḥ | tasmādvahniṣu dāreṣu rakṣā kāryā svaśaktitaḥ
நாங்கள் அங்கே மனம் ஒருமித்து ஐந்து இரவுகள் தங்குவோம்; ஆகையால் உன் ஆற்றலுக்கு ஏற்ப அக்னிகளையும் இல்லத்தாரையும் (இல்லற ஒழுங்கையும்) காக்க வேண்டும்।
Narrator-embedded speech (a group of dvijas/munis addressing a householder/guardian figure in the story context)
Tirtha: Puṣkara (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Pilgrims preparing to depart: one elder instructs caretakers to guard the sacred fire altar and the household; a calm but serious domestic scene with ritual implements and protective gestures.
FAQs
Pilgrimage discipline includes practical dharma: safeguarding sacred fires and protecting the household while undertaking holy observances.
The ongoing context remains the Puṣkara-traya pilgrimage site mentioned in the preceding verse.
Pañcarātra-vāsa (a five-night stay) undertaken with samāhita-bhāva (focused religious intent).