Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 1
तारक उवाच । राज्येन बुद्बुदाभेन स्त्रीभिरक्षैश्च पानकैः । मोहितो जन्म लब्ध्वात्र त्यजते पौरुषं नरः
tāraka uvāca | rājyena budbudābhena strībhirakṣaiśca pānakaiḥ | mohito janma labdhvātra tyajate pauruṣaṃ naraḥ
তারক বলল—বুদ্বুদসম ক্ষণস্থায়ী রাজ্য, নারী, পাশাখেলা ও পানীয়ে মোহিত হয়ে মানুষ এই জগতে জন্ম লাভ করেও নিজের পৌরুষধর্ম ত্যাগ করে।
Tāraka
Listener: Ministers (mantriṇaḥ)
Scene: Tāraka delivering a sober admonition in court: gestures of instruction, ministers listening; behind them, symbolic bubble imagery or fading garlands to show impermanence; dice and wine-cup subtly depicted as temptations.
FAQs
Attachment to fleeting pleasures and power erodes inner strength; self-mastery is presented as the foundation of true pauruṣa (heroic virtue).
None; this is ethical discourse within the narrative.
No formal ritual is prescribed; the verse implies restraint from gambling and intoxicants.