Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37
मातुः पितुर्वा बलिनः क्रेतुरग्नेः शुनोऽपि वा । इति संचिंत्य व्यहरन्नमरा इव ईश्वराः
mātuḥ piturvā balinaḥ kreturagneḥ śuno'pi vā | iti saṃciṃtya vyaharannamarā iva īśvarāḥ
Thinking, “(This body belongs) to the mother, or the father, or the strong man, or the buyer, or to Fire, or even to a dog,” and reasoning thus, such “lords” behave like immortals, as though beyond accountability.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative mode)
Scene: An allegorical procession of ‘claimants’ around a human body: mother and father, a strongman, a buyer with coins, a sacrificial fire, and a dog; above them, arrogant ‘lords’ stride as if deathless—while Yama’s shadow looms faintly, implying accountability.
FAQs
Rationalizations about ‘ownership’ can become excuses for cruelty; dharma demands accountability and compassion.
No tirtha is mentioned; it is an ethical critique within the discourse.
No ritual prescription; it exposes wrongful reasoning that leads to adharma.