Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52
एवमेतद्विनिष्पन्नं शरीरं पुण्यहेतवे । यथैव स्यंदनः शुभ्रो भारसंवाहनाय च
evametadviniṣpannaṃ śarīraṃ puṇyahetave | yathaiva syaṃdanaḥ śubhro bhārasaṃvāhanāya ca
So ist dieser Körper, sobald er vollständig geformt ist, dazu bestimmt, eine Ursache für Verdienste zu sein. So wie ein sauberer, ausgezeichneter Wagen dazu da ist, eine Last zu tragen, so ist auch der Körper für zielgerichtetes Streben bestimmt.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A luminous analogy scene: a spotless white chariot beside a disciplined sādhaka; the chariot symbolizes the body, with dharma as the ‘load’—scriptures, water-pot, rosary—ready for pilgrimage.
FAQs
Human embodiment is an instrument for earning puṇya; it should be used for dharma rather than mere indulgence.
No location is praised in this verse; it gives a general dharmic maxim.
No specific rite is mandated; the verse frames the body’s purpose as merit-producing action.