Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 142
अंतरेण न गच्छेन द्वयोर्ज्वलनलिंगयोः । नाग्न्योर्न विप्रयोश्चैव न दंपत्योर्नृपोत्तम
aṃtareṇa na gacchena dvayorjvalanaliṃgayoḥ | nāgnyorna viprayoścaiva na daṃpatyornṛpottama
اے بہترین بادشاہ! دو آگوں کے بیچ سے نہ گزرو؛ نہ دو مقدس آگنیوں کے درمیان؛ نہ دو برہمنوں کے درمیان؛ اور نہ میاں بیوی کے درمیان۔
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages
Listener: nṛpottama (a king)
Scene: A king approaches a yajña pavilion; two blazing fires/altars stand aligned; he respectfully circumambulates instead of crossing between them. Nearby, two brāhmaṇas sit in Vedic recitation; a couple stands together; the king keeps respectful distance.
FAQs
Respect for sacred presences and human bonds is dharma; one avoids actions that symbolically ‘divide’ what should not be divided.
No tīrtha is mentioned; it is a general rule of reverential conduct.
A behavioral injunction: do not walk between two fires (especially sacred fires), between brāhmaṇas, or between spouses.