Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 59
गंगातोयेन सर्वेण मृद्भारैः पर्वतोपमैः । आ मृत्योराचरञ्छौचं भावदुष्टो न शुध्यति
gaṃgātoyena sarveṇa mṛdbhāraiḥ parvatopamaiḥ | ā mṛtyorācarañchaucaṃ bhāvaduṣṭo na śudhyati
แม้จะปฏิบัติชำระกายจนถึงความตาย ใช้น้ำคงคาทั้งสิ้นและกองดินดุจภูเขา ผู้มีภาวะภายในเศร้าหมองย่อมไม่บริสุทธิ์
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: river
Scene: A vast Gaṅgā river scene with pilgrims bathing; one figure radiates calm devotion, another remains dark/opaque despite repeated washing, with heaps of cleansing earth piled nearby like small hills.
FAQs
Even the holiest waters cannot cleanse a corrupt inner disposition; inner purity is indispensable.
The Gaṅgā is referenced as the supreme purifier, yet the verse stresses that her power bears fruit only with purified intention.
Bodily cleansing with sacred water and earth is mentioned, but it is declared insufficient without bhāvaśuddhi.