Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17
ऋणापनुत्तये मातुः कारितो न जलाशयः । नातिथिस्तोषितः क्वापि स्वर्गमार्गप्रदर्शकः
ṛṇāpanuttaye mātuḥ kārito na jalāśayaḥ | nātithistoṣitaḥ kvāpi svargamārgapradarśakaḥ
Để trả món nợ ân nghĩa với mẹ, ta chưa cho xây hồ chứa nước; và ta cũng chưa từng làm hài lòng một vị khách (atithi)—dẫu rằng hiếu khách chỉ bày con đường lên cõi trời.
Skanda (deduced from Kāśīkhaṇḍa default dialogue frame)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A half-built pond/stepwell lies dry; a mother figure is shown in dignified silhouette, while weary guests stand at a doorway with empty bowls—contrasted with a luminous ‘svarga-mārga’ path in the sky, indicating what hospitality reveals.
FAQs
Dharma includes gratitude to one’s mother and service to society (water works), along with atithi-satkara; these are framed as direct supports for auspicious destiny.
The Kāśīkhaṇḍa context implies Kāśī’s pilgrimage culture, where ponds, tanks, and hospitality to travelers are especially meritorious, though no single tirtha is named.
Constructing a jalāśaya (pond/tank) as a meritorious act, and honoring/satisfying guests (atithi-toṣaṇa).