Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 54
व्यास उवाच । कष्टं वने निवसतोऽत्र सदा नरस्य नो केवलं निजतनुप्रभवं भवेच्च । दैवं च पित्र्यमखिलं न विभाति कृत्यं तस्माद्गृहे निवसतात्महितं प्रचिन्त्यम्
vyāsa uvāca | kaṣṭaṃ vane nivasato'tra sadā narasya no kevalaṃ nijatanuprabhavaṃ bhavecca | daivaṃ ca pitryamakhilaṃ na vibhāti kṛtyaṃ tasmādgṛhe nivasatātmahitaṃ pracintyam
Vyāsa dit : Pour l’homme qui demeure sans cesse dans la forêt, la peine survient, non seulement de ce qui naît de son propre corps. De plus, l’ensemble des devoirs envers les dieux et envers les ancêtres ne peut s’accomplir comme il convient. C’est pourquoi, tout en vivant au foyer, il faut réfléchir et poursuivre ce qui est réellement salutaire pour soi.
Vyāsa
Scene: Vyāsa instructs on the limits of constant forest-dwelling: an ascetic hut in a sparse forest contrasts with a household courtyard where fire-altar, offerings, and pitṛ-tarpaṇa are performed; the teaching is calm and didactic.
FAQs
Renunciation without capacity to fulfill essential dharmic obligations is incomplete; one should pursue spiritual good while honoring duties.
No particular tīrtha is named; the verse supports the Mahātmya’s broader dharma framework that makes pilgrimage meaningful.
It points to daiva and pitṛya obligations (offerings/rites to gods and ancestors) as duties more practicable within gṛhastha life.