Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
स्वार्थोद्युक्तधियो ये स्युरन्वर्थास्तेप्यसुंधराः । मरणं प्रकृतिश्चैव जीवितं विकृतिर्यदा
svārthodyuktadhiyo ye syuranvarthāstepyasuṃdharāḥ | maraṇaṃ prakṛtiścaiva jīvitaṃ vikṛtiryadā
Diejenigen, deren Geist nur auf Eigennutz gerichtet ist—obwohl sie „lebend“ heißen—sind nicht wahrhaft Träger des Lebens. Wenn der Tod als „natürlich“ gilt und das Leben selbst zur Verzerrung wird, sind die Werte verkehrt worden.
Indradyumna (contextual continuation)
Scene: A contemplative figure stands at a crossroads: one path crowded with grasping hands and gold (self-interest), the other with a lamp, water-pot, and open palms (dharma). A subtle motif shows a corpse-like shadow clinging to the selfish path, while the dharmic path glows with life.
FAQs
A life centered on selfishness is portrayed as spiritually hollow, as if life itself has lost its proper meaning.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is nīti (ethical instruction) within the Purāṇic story.
None; the emphasis is on inner disposition—moving from svārtha to hitācaraṇa (benefiting others).