Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 49
अनिच्छयापि संस्पृष्टो दहनो हि यथा दहेत् । अनिच्छयापि संस्नाता गंगा पापं तथा दहेत्
anicchayāpi saṃspṛṣṭo dahano hi yathā dahet | anicchayāpi saṃsnātā gaṃgā pāpaṃ tathā dahet
جس طرح آگ بے ارادہ چھو جانے پر بھی جلا دیتی ہے، اسی طرح بے نیت بھی گنگا میں اشنان ہو جائے تو گنگا گناہ کو جلا دیتی ہے۔
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: ghat
Scene: A person slips or is splashed by Gaṅgā unintentionally; simultaneously, a symbolic fire-flame motif overlays the water, showing sins as dark soot burning away into light.
FAQs
The purifying power of a true tīrtha is intrinsic—Gaṅgā removes sin like fire burns, regardless of intent.
Gaṅgā as the supreme purifier-tīrtha within the Kāśī sacred region.
Bathing in the Gaṅgā (snāna) as a means of pāpa-kṣaya (sin-destruction).