Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 82
वेनः प्रहस्य दुर्बुद्धिरिदं वचनकोविदः । स्रष्टा धर्मस्य कश्चान्यः श्रोतव्यं कस्य वा मया
venaḥ prahasya durbuddhiridaṃ vacanakovidaḥ | sraṣṭā dharmasya kaścānyaḥ śrotavyaṃ kasya vā mayā
Vena—stupide mais habile en paroles—rit et dit : «Qui d’autre est le créateur du dharma ? Et qui devrais-je donc écouter ?»
King Vena
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka-led ṛṣis (frame typical)
Scene: Vena laughs—sharp, contemptuous—declaring himself the maker of dharma and refusing to listen; rishis stand unwavering, their tapas-tejas contrasting his glittering pride.
FAQs
Clever speech without humility becomes a tool of adharma; rejecting wise counsel leads to downfall.
The narrative is embedded in Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, but this verse highlights character and governance.
None; it concerns authority over dharma and refusal to heed instruction.