Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4
रक्तेन तस्य मे शूलं निर्मलं नैव जायते । शुभव्रततपोजप्यरतो ब्रह्मन्मया हतः
raktena tasya me śūlaṃ nirmalaṃ naiva jāyate | śubhavratatapojapyarato brahmanmayā hataḥ
তাৰ তেজৰ দ্বাৰা মোৰ ত্ৰিশূল একেবাৰেই পবিত্ৰ হোৱা নাই। হে ব্ৰহ্মন, যদিও তেওঁ শুভ ব্ৰত আৰু তপস্যাত মগ্ন আছিল, তথাপিও মই তেওঁক বধ কৰিলোঁ।
Īśvara (Śiva)
Scene: Śiva holds the trident, looking contemplative; the trident’s tip is stained, symbolizing unresolved impurity; Brahmā listens as Śiva expresses moral concern over slaying a vow-keeping ascetic demon.
FAQs
External observances (vrata, tapas, japa) do not by themselves confer purity when aligned with adharma; inner intent and righteousness are decisive.
No tīrtha is named yet; the verse motivates the ensuing tīrtha-yātrā for purification.
Vrata (vows), tapas (austerity), and japa (recitation) are referenced, but not prescribed; they are discussed in relation to moral fitness.