Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6
ऋषय ऊचुः । किं तत्कार्यं वसेद्येन क्षेत्रे मासचतुष्टयम् । हिमाचले यथैवाष्टौ सूतपुत्र वदस्व नः
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | kiṃ tatkāryaṃ vasedyena kṣetre māsacatuṣṭayam | himācale yathaivāṣṭau sūtaputra vadasva naḥ
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า: “ด้วยเหตุใดจึงควรพำนักในกษेत्रอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์นี้สี่เดือน—และเช่นเดียวกันในหิมาจละแปดเดือน? โอ้บุตรแห่งสูตะ จงบอกแก่เราเถิด”
Ṛṣis (Sages)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sūta (Sūtaputra)
Scene: A circle of sages respectfully question Sūta about the purpose and fruit of staying four months in a kṣetra and eight months in the Himalaya.
FAQs
Pilgrimage is not merely a visit; extended residence and disciplined practice in a tīrtha are portrayed as a distinct sādhana with special merit.
The immediate reference is to ‘the kṣetra’ under discussion and to Himācala (Himalayan sacred region), anticipating a tīrtha-based narrative explanation.
A time-based observance is implied: staying for four months in the kṣetra (and eight months in Himācala), typically associated with vrata-like discipline and sustained worship.