Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20
अत्रिरुवाच । नास्महेनास्महे मूढ वयमज्ञानबुद्धयः । हैमानीमानि जानीमः प्रतिबुद्धाः स्म जाड्यतः
atriruvāca | nāsmahenāsmahe mūḍha vayamajñānabuddhayaḥ | haimānīmāni jānīmaḥ pratibuddhāḥ sma jāḍyataḥ
Atri dit : «Ô insensé, nous ne sommes pas vraiment “sages” ; notre intelligence est encore dans l’ignorance. Nous les avons pris pour de l’or, et voici que nous nous éveillons de notre lourdeur».
Atri
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: Atri speaks with candid humility, palms open in admission; the gathered sages show softened expressions of realization; the gold-fruits lie untouched, symbolizing conquered temptation.
FAQs
Dharma includes self-scrutiny: even sages admit error and ‘wake up’ from dullness when ethical clarity arises.
The verse is part of Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya’s moral narrative, reinforcing purity as a pilgrimage virtue.
No ritual; it emphasizes inner reform—recognition and renunciation of ethically problematic gain.