Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36
पुनः पातो यतः पुंसस्तस्मात्स्वर्गं न कामये । सति पुण्ये स्वयं तेन पातितो निजलोकतः
punaḥ pāto yataḥ puṃsastasmātsvargaṃ na kāmaye | sati puṇye svayaṃ tena pātito nijalokataḥ
Da der Mensch wieder fallen muss, begehre ich daher den Himmel nicht. Selbst wenn Verdienst noch bleibt, wird man, sobald es erschöpft ist, aus der eigenen Welt herabgestoßen.
Indradyumna (king)
Tirtha: Svarga (as contrasted realm)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Indradyumna states the law of merit-exhaustion: even while merit lasts, once it ends one falls from one’s world; the imagery can show a celestial figure descending as a metaphor, while the king points toward a steadier Śiva-path.
FAQs
Merit yields results but is finite; lasting refuge is sought beyond merit-based heavens, aligning with the Purāṇic push toward higher liberation and devotion.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse.
No direct ritual is prescribed; it underscores the limitation of puṇya-based attainments.