Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 54
यो न क्लिष्टोपि भिक्षेत ब्राह्मण स्तीर्थसेवकः । सत्यवादी समाधिस्थः स तीर्थस्योपकारकः
yo na kliṣṭopi bhikṣeta brāhmaṇa stīrthasevakaḥ | satyavādī samādhisthaḥ sa tīrthasyopakārakaḥ
وہ برہمن جو تیرتھ کی خدمت کرے اور سختی میں بھی بھیک نہ مانگے، سچ بولنے والا اور باطنی یکسوئی میں قائم ہو—وہی تیرتھ کا سچا محسن ہے۔
Skanda (deduced from section context)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa
Type: kshetra
Scene: A calm brāhmaṇa tīrtha-sevaka stands near the ghat with a broom and water-pot, serving quietly; despite worn clothing, his face is serene, eyes half-closed in samādhi; pilgrims offer voluntary gifts which he accepts without greed.
FAQs
The holiness of a place is upheld by the self-restraint, truthfulness, and dignity of those who serve it.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra, by describing the character of those whose conduct enhances the tīrtha.
A conduct prescription: the tīrtha-servant should avoid begging, remain truthful, and stay inwardly composed.