Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 34
तस्मान्नैव प्रतिग्राह्यं किमन्यैर्ब्राह्मणैरपि । द्विप्रकारस्य तीर्थस्य कृतस्याप्यकृतस्य च
tasmānnaiva pratigrāhyaṃ kimanyairbrāhmaṇairapi | dviprakārasya tīrthasya kṛtasyāpyakṛtasya ca
ஆகையால் தானம் ஏற்றல் கூடாது—மற்ற பிராமணர்கள் பற்றி சொல்லவே வேண்டாம்—தீர்த்தம் ‘செய்யப்பட்டது’ ஆக இருந்தாலும் ‘செய்யப்படாத/சுயம்பு’ ஆக இருந்தாலும், இருவகை தீர்த்தத்திலும் இதுவே விதி.
Skanda (deduced)
Scene: Two tīrthas shown side-by-side: one with a built ghat/temple (kṛta), another as a natural spring/river bend (akṛta). A brāhmaṇa stands with palms turned inward in refusal, signifying the niṣedha of accepting gifts.
FAQs
At tīrthas, purity of intention is paramount; accepting gifts is broadly discouraged to protect sanctity and integrity.
The instruction is situated in Prabhāsa-kṣetra’s māhātmya, though it generalizes to all tīrthas.
A clear prohibition: do not accept gifts (pratigrāha) at tīrthas, whether constructed or self-manifest.