Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 71
प्रोचुर्भूरिधनं चैतज्जीर्यत्यस्मिन्न जीवति । असौ धनी प्रयत्नेन वध्यः सपरिचारकः
procurbhūridhanaṃ caitajjīryatyasminna jīvati | asau dhanī prayatnena vadhyaḥ saparicārakaḥ
उन्होंने कहा, "यह बहुत अधिक धन है; यदि यह जीवित रहा तो यह धन हमारे हाथ से निकल जाएगा। अतः इस धनी व्यक्ति को इसके सेवक सहित अवश्य मार डालना चाहिए।"
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Listener: Śaunaka and sages
Scene: Thieves huddle in a grim council, counting loot; one points toward the captive and attendant, signaling execution to secure the stolen wealth.
FAQs
Greed escalates into lethal adharma; when wealth becomes the goal, compassion and restraint collapse.
Kāśī is praised implicitly as a dharmic refuge; the story’s darkness intensifies after the protagonist leaves it.
None; the verse records an adharma-driven decision, serving as a warning.