Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 31
दैवं हेतुं वदंत्येवं भृशं कापुरुषाः पते । स्वयं पुराकृतं कर्म दैवं तच्च न हीतरत्
daivaṃ hetuṃ vadaṃtyevaṃ bhṛśaṃ kāpuruṣāḥ pate | svayaṃ purākṛtaṃ karma daivaṃ tacca na hītarat
«القدر هو السبب»، يقول الجبناء يا مولاي ويُكثرون من ذلك. غير أنّ «القدر» ليس إلاّ كَرْمَ المرء الذي صنعه في الماضي؛ ولا شيء سواه.
Kanakakuṇḍala
Tirtha: Kāśī (general)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Yakṣiṇī (addressed as ‘pate’ in the verse’s vocative frame; narrative may involve role-played address)
Scene: A firm, instructive moment: Kanakakuṇḍala admonishes ‘timid men’ who blame fate; the scene shows a contrast—one figure slumped in resignation, another upright in resolve near a shrine path.
FAQs
The verse rejects helpless fatalism: destiny (daiva) is understood as the maturation of one’s own past karma, encouraging responsible dharmic action.
Not explicit in this verse; it is part of the Kāśī-khaṇḍa narrative that frames dharma teachings within the sacred geography of Kāśī.
None; it is a doctrinal teaching urging effort and ethical responsibility.