Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 54
यद्यात्मा रक्षितः पुंसा दारैरपि धनैरपि । तदा सर्वं हरिश्चंद्रभूपेनेवेह लभ्यते
yadyātmā rakṣitaḥ puṃsā dārairapi dhanairapi | tadā sarvaṃ hariścaṃdrabhūpeneveha labhyate
Si l’homme sauvegarde sa propre vie—fût-ce au prix de l’épouse et des biens—alors tout peut être retrouvé ici-bas, comme ce fut le cas du roi Hariścandra.
Pārāvatī (female pigeon) to her mate (pārāvata) within Skanda’s narration to Agastya
Tirtha: Kāśī (Hariścandra-associated ghāṭa/śmaśāna tradition)
Type: ghat
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame)
Scene: As the pigeon speaks, a faint visionary overlay shows King Hariścandra—emaciated yet resolute—near a cremation ground in Kāśī, symbolizing regained fortune through endurance.
FAQs
Ātma-rakṣā (preserving life) is foundational; losses of wealth and comfort can be restored, but destruction of life ends all worldly dharma and opportunity.
Kāśī is the textual frame; the verse additionally invokes Hariścandra as a paradigmatic king to strengthen the dharmic point.
None.