Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 42
वाच्यमानं न शृण्वंति हरेश्चरितमुत्तमम् । करपत्रैश्च पीड्यंते सुतीव्रैर्यम शासनात्
vācyamānaṃ na śṛṇvaṃti hareścaritamuttamam | karapatraiśca pīḍyaṃte sutīvrairyama śāsanāt
Ceux qui refusent d’écouter lorsque sont récités les actes suprêmement sacrés de Hari sont, par décret de Yama, tourmentés par des lames semblables à des mains, d’une acuité extrême.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice within Dvārakā Māhātmya; specific speaker not stated in the verse)
Tirtha: Dvārakā-kṣetra (Hari-kathā-sthala)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A recitation assembly (sabhā) where Hari’s deeds are being read; one figure turns away with closed ears; in a visionary overlay, Yama’s ordinance manifests as ‘hand-like blades’ tormenting the offender—symbolic of karmic consequence for rejecting sacred sound.
FAQs
Listening to Hari’s sacred deeds (hari-carita/hari-kathā) is a core duty; willful refusal is treated as a serious spiritual fault.
The broader context is Dvārakā Māhātmya, emphasizing devotion and conduct connected to Dvārakā.
The implied prescription is śravaṇa—reverent listening to the recitation of Hari’s excellent deeds.