Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 58
एकविंशतिमा चैषा नाम्ना वैतरणी नदी । सर्वैरेव नरैर्गम्या धर्मपापानुयायिभिः
ekaviṃśatimā caiṣā nāmnā vaitaraṇī nadī | sarvaireva narairgamyā dharmapāpānuyāyibhiḥ
இது இருபத்தொன்றாவது—‘வைதரணி’ எனப்படும் நதி; தர்மத்தைப் பின்பற்றியவரும் பாவத்தைத் தொடர்ந்தவரும் ஆகிய எல்லா மனிதரும் அதனை அணுகவே வேண்டும்।
Yama
Tirtha: Vaitaraṇī
Type: river
Listener: dvija/vipra
Scene: A dark, wide river with churning currents; on one bank stand souls of varied conduct—some calm with lamps and garlands, others terrified; a narrow crossing appears (boat/cow-assisted ford as symbolic), with Yama’s attendants overseeing.
FAQs
Every being faces the consequences of karma; dharma prepares one to pass difficult thresholds in the afterlife.
The verse mentions Vaitaraṇī as an otherworldly river in Yama’s realm, not a terrestrial pilgrimage spot in this specific line.
Not in this verse; the next verses connect Vaitaraṇī-crossing with the gift of a cow (go-dāna).
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