Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 121
उद्वेगं च परं यांति प्रतप्यंति यतस्ततः । आत्मसंभाविता मूढा मिथ्याज्ञानेन मोहिताः । वर्णाश्रमविरुद्धं तु तीर्थे कु्र्वन्ति येऽधमाः
udvegaṃ ca paraṃ yāṃti pratapyaṃti yatastataḥ | ātmasaṃbhāvitā mūḍhā mithyājñānena mohitāḥ | varṇāśramaviruddhaṃ tu tīrthe ku्rvanti ye'dhamāḥ
তারা চরম উদ্বেগে পতিত হয় এবং সর্বত্র দুঃখে দগ্ধ হয়ে ঘুরে বেড়ায়—আত্মগর্বে অন্ধ মূঢ়, মিথ্যা জ্ঞানে মোহিত। যে অধমেরা বর্ণাশ্রম-ধর্মের বিরুদ্ধ আচরণ করে, তারা তীর্থেও এমন অপরাধ করে।
Śiva (Īśvara)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī
Scene: Restless figures wander in heat-haze, faces anxious, arguing with smug certainty; a calm ascetic points toward the tīrtha, while the sacred precinct glows—contrasting true knowledge with false certainty and dharma-violation.
FAQs
Arrogance and counterfeit spirituality destroy peace and merit; dharma must be upheld especially in sacred spaces.
The admonition occurs within Prabhāsa Māhātmya, applying to behavior at Prabhāsa and tīrthas generally.
The prescription is behavioral: adhere to varṇāśrama-appropriate duties and avoid adharma at the tīrtha.