Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 59
सोमशर्मेति विख्यातो मृतः पृथुललोचनः । स सखायं वणिक्पुत्रं कंचिच्चक्रे दरिद्रिणम्
somaśarmeti vikhyāto mṛtaḥ pṛthulalocanaḥ | sa sakhāyaṃ vaṇikputraṃ kaṃciccakre daridriṇam
وكان يُعرف باسم سوماشَرمان، ثم مات مع مرور الزمن، يا واسعَ العينين. وقد اتّخذ صديقًا له ابنَ تاجرٍ كان قد سقط في الفقر.
Narrator (addressing the listener as pṛthulocana)
Tirtha: Bhārabhūti
Type: ghat
Listener: pṛthula-locana (addressed as ‘O wide-eyed one’ in translation; likely the interlocutor)
Scene: Somaśarman—righteous son—passes away; the narrative shifts to his bond with a merchant’s son now impoverished: a poignant scene of a once-equal companion in worn garments, head bowed, contrasted with memories of earlier prosperity.
FAQs
Human bonds and ethical choices—especially toward the poor—become the ground where dharma is tested in Purāṇic narratives.
The wider account is tied to Bhārabhūti Tīrtha; this verse continues the character background.
None; it is narrative progression.