Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 77
मूर्च्छनातालसंयुक्तं तंत्रीलयसमन्वितम् । क्षणेन सहसा देवो धर्मराजो जितात्मवान् । विमनाः स तदा जातो धर्मराजो नृपात्मजः
mūrcchanātālasaṃyuktaṃ taṃtrīlayasamanvitam | kṣaṇena sahasā devo dharmarājo jitātmavān | vimanāḥ sa tadā jāto dharmarājo nṛpātmajaḥ
Verbunden mit Tonarten (mūrchchanā) und Takt (tāla) und erfüllt vom gemessenen Fluss der Saiten—da wurde in einem Augenblick selbst der gottgleiche Dharmarāja, der sich beherrscht, plötzlich niedergeschlagen, o Königssohn.
Narrator addressing Yudhiṣṭhira (nṛpātmaja)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (addressed as nṛpātmaja)
Scene: Music swells with mūrchchanā and tāla; the string-cadence becomes irresistible. In an instant Dharmarāja—disciplined and radiant—turns visibly downcast, as if a shadow crossed his face.
FAQs
Even the disciplined can be shaken by subtle allure; vigilance is part of Dharma when confronted by refined temptation.
Dharmāraṇya is the sacred narrative arena; its māhātmya is expressed through events that reveal the power of Dharma and the dangers of मोह (mohana).
No direct ritual is stated; the verse illustrates a moral-spiritual trial through music.