Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 151
अथ स्वर्गेऽथ नरेक स्थिताः कर्माभियंत्रिताः । शक्नुवंति वरानेतान्दातुं ते चेश्वराः कथम्
atha svarge'tha nareka sthitāḥ karmābhiyaṃtritāḥ | śaknuvaṃti varānetāndātuṃ te ceśvarāḥ katham
আর যদি তারা স্বর্গে বা নরকে অবস্থান করে, কর্মের দ্বারা নিয়ন্ত্রিত হয়—তবে ‘ঈশ্বর’ হয়ে তারা কীভাবে এমন বর দিতে সক্ষম হবে?
Karaṃdhama (continuing the query)
Scene: The king presses the question about Pitṛs’ lordship; the sage remains composed. Symbolic imagery shows a wheel of karma binding beings, while a stream of merit rises from offerings, suggesting lawful transfer beyond personal ‘lordship’.
FAQs
It questions apparent contradictions: karmic determinism versus the traditional belief that satisfied ancestors bestow blessings.
No tīrtha is specified in this verse.
No new prescription is given; it continues the inquiry about the results attributed to Śrāddha.