Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
भगवन्सर्वतीर्थानां क्षेत्राणां च वदस्व मे । यत्प्रधानं पवित्रं यत्तदस्माकं प्रकीर्तय
bhagavansarvatīrthānāṃ kṣetrāṇāṃ ca vadasva me | yatpradhānaṃ pavitraṃ yattadasmākaṃ prakīrtaya
ஓ பகவானே! எல்லா தீர்த்தங்களையும் புனிதக் க்ஷேத்திரங்களையும் எனக்குச் சொல்லுங்கள்; அவற்றில் எது முதன்மை, எது மிகப் புனிதம் என்பதை எங்களுக்கு அறிவியுங்கள்।
Yayāti (in dialogue with Mārkaṇḍeya)
Scene: A royal listener (nṛpaśreṣṭha) respectfully questions a sage about the foremost tīrtha; the setting suggests an assembly with palm-leaf manuscripts, water-pot, and ascetic emblems.
FAQs
Dharma encourages discernment: seekers should learn which holy places most effectively purify and uplift, rather than wandering without guidance.
Not named yet; the question sets up Mārkaṇḍeya’s identification of the foremost kṣetra in the next verse.
General orientation to tīrtha-sevana (seeking and honoring pilgrimage places); no specific rite is detailed.