Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 36
जायंते च म्रियंते च जलेष्वेव जलौकसः । न च गच्छंति ते स्वर्गमविशुद्धमनोमलाः
jāyaṃte ca mriyaṃte ca jaleṣveva jalaukasaḥ | na ca gacchaṃti te svargamaviśuddhamanomalāḥ
پانی میں رہنے والے جاندار پانی ہی میں پیدا ہوتے اور پانی ہی میں مرتے ہیں؛ پھر بھی وہ جنت کو نہیں پہنچتے، کیونکہ ان کے دلوں کی میل پاک نہیں ہوتی۔
Skanda
Tirtha: Gaṅgā in Kāśī (implied)
Type: ghat
Scene: Fish and turtles glide in the river while a human pilgrim reflects on the steps; above, a faint celestial path indicates that ascent is barred by mental impurity, not by lack of water-contact.
FAQs
Constant contact with sacred water is not enough; spiritual ascent requires purified intention and mind.
The verse speaks generally of water and purity; in Kāśīkhaṇḍa it frames Kāśī’s sacred waters as effective only with inner cleansing.
It implicitly corrects snāna-practice: bathe with inner purification rather than relying on water alone.