Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 140
बहूपसर्गो योगोयं कृच्छ्रसाध्यं तपो हि यत् । योगाद्भ्रष्टस्तपोभ्रष्टो गर्भक्लेशसहःपुनः
bahūpasargo yogoyaṃ kṛcchrasādhyaṃ tapo hi yat | yogādbhraṣṭastapobhraṣṭo garbhakleśasahaḥpunaḥ
هذا نهج اليوغا تعترضه عوائق كثيرة، وكذلك التَّبَس (الزهد والنسك) لا يُنال إلا بمشقة. ومن انتكس عن اليوغا أو عن التبس فعليه أن يتحمّل من جديد آلام الرحم، أي ولادةً أخرى.
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative context)
Listener: Umā/Devī (likely in surrounding dialogue)
Scene: An ascetic attempts yoga amid distractions—wind, hunger, doubts—while a shadowy wheel of rebirth looms; the imagery underscores the hardship of tapas and the sorrow of returning to womb-suffering after spiritual fall.
FAQs
Yoga and austerity are difficult and vulnerable to downfall; spiritual negligence can lead back to rebirth and its suffering.
No single tīrtha is named in this verse; within Kāśīkhaṇḍa it supports Kāśī’s broader mokṣa-mahātmya by contrasting difficult sādhana.
No specific rite is prescribed; it warns about maintaining steadiness in yoga and tapas.