Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
दिव्या मनोरमा सौम्या महापापप्रणाशिनी । नदीरूपेण तत्रैव पृथ्वी सा नात्र संशयः
divyā manoramā saumyā mahāpāpapraṇāśinī | nadīrūpeṇa tatraiva pṛthvī sā nātra saṃśayaḥ
นางเป็นทิพย์ งดงาม อ่อนโยน และทำลายบาปใหญ่ได้ ที่นั่นเอง แผ่นดินโลกสถิตอยู่ในรูปแห่งสายน้ำ—ปราศจากข้อสงสัย
Bhṛgu (contextual, continuing narration to Nārada)
Tirtha: Mahī-nadī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Nārada
Scene: A serene, luminous river with a subtle superimposed form of Bhū-devī rising from the waters—gentle face, earth-toned garments—while devotees bathe; the atmosphere conveys softness (saumya) and immense purifying power.
FAQs
Purāṇic sacred geography teaches that divine presence can manifest as landscape—here, the river is revered as Earth herself, granting deep purification.
The Mahī river is implied as the divine river-form of Earth, famed for destroying great sins.
Implicitly, snāna (ritual bathing) and pilgrimage to such a river are suggested as means for pāpa-kṣaya (sin-removal).