Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 28
रिरक्षुणा शरीरं स्वं तेनाकामनया पिता । रजन्यां हिंसितो विप्रा महापातककारिणा
rirakṣuṇā śarīraṃ svaṃ tenākāmanayā pitā | rajanyāṃ hiṃsito viprā mahāpātakakāriṇā
Ne cherchant qu’à protéger son propre corps, lui—bien malgré lui—blessa son père dans la nuit, ô brāhmaṇas, et devint ainsi l’auteur d’un grand péché.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration within Setukhaṇḍa)
Listener: विप्राः
Scene: विप्रसमाजे कथन—‘आत्मरक्षुणा’ इति आत्मनिन्दा; पृष्ठभूमौ रात्रिवन-छाया, रक्ताभ-प्रहारस्मृति, मुखे ग्लानि
FAQs
Even when harm is unintended, dharma treats certain acts as mahāpātaka, requiring humility and expiation.
The verse belongs to Setukhaṇḍa, which frames such moral episodes around the sanctity of Setu and the power of purification in that sacred region.
The verse implies the need for prāyaścitta for mahāpātaka, though the specific rite is stated later.
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