Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 134
पुण्यमूलक्षये तद्वत्पातयंति दिवौकसः । इति स्वर्गेपि देवानां नास्ति सौख्यं विचारतः
puṇyamūlakṣaye tadvatpātayaṃti divaukasaḥ | iti svargepi devānāṃ nāsti saukhyaṃ vicārataḥ
فإذا فني أصلُ البرّ كذلك يُطرَح سكانُ السماء إلى أسفل. وهكذا، عند التأمّل، حتى في السماء لا يملك الآلهة سعادةً دائمة.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A celestial assembly where joy fades as a ‘merit lamp’ runs out; devas looking concerned; below, the same falling-tree motif subtly echoed; a calm ascetic pointing toward a higher, formless light (mokṣa).
FAQs
Merit-based pleasures are impermanent; only what transcends puṇya-kṣaya yields lasting peace.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it serves a general dharma teaching within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.
None explicitly; the verse focuses on the doctrine of karma and the exhaustion of merit.