Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोपि गयां व्रजेत् । यजेत वाऽश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत्
eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yadyekopi gayāṃ vrajet | yajeta vā'śvamedhena nīlaṃ vā vṛṣamutsṛjet
بہت سے بیٹوں کی آرزو کرنی چاہیے—اگر ان میں سے ایک بھی گیا دھام جائے؛ یا اشومیدھ یَجْن کرے؛ یا نیلا بیل (ورِشَبھ) کو پُنّیہ دان کے طور پر آزاد چھوڑ دے۔
Sūta (continuing narration)
Tirtha: Gayā
Type: kshetra
Scene: A devoted son at Gayā performing piṇḍa-dāna on the riverbank, with priests guiding; nearby a symbolic Aśvamedha horse and a blue bull being released—three supreme acts juxtaposed as dharma-options.
FAQs
A single dharmic son who undertakes high-merit acts—pilgrimage to Gayā, great sacrifice, or sacred gifting—can fulfill profound religious obligations.
Gayā is explicitly praised as a destination whose pilgrimage is considered exceptionally meritorious.
Pilgrimage to Gayā; performance of Aśvamedha; and vṛṣotsarga (releasing a bull as a sacred act/dāna).