Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 106
सर्वमार्गं विलुंमपंति लोभाज्जातिषु निष्ठुराः । धर्मावतंसकाः क्षुद्रा मुष्णंति ध्वजिनो जगत्
sarvamārgaṃ viluṃmapaṃti lobhājjātiṣu niṣṭhurāḥ | dharmāvataṃsakāḥ kṣudrā muṣṇaṃti dhvajino jagat
लोभ से प्रेरित कठोर-हृदय लोग, भिन्न-भिन्न जातियों में प्रकट होकर, हर मार्ग को लूट लेते हैं। तुच्छ जन ‘धर्म’ को आभूषण बनाकर, ध्वज उठाए हुए-से जगत को लूटते हैं।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), contextually within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to the sages
Scene: A procession of petty men carrying banners and wearing religious marks, while secretly looting travelers on a road; dharma depicted as a garland worn as mere decoration, contrasted with a true ascetic protecting pilgrims.
FAQs
Greed makes people cruel and destructive, and false displays of religiosity can become a mask for exploitation.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it is a general dharma-teaching within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa context.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the verse critiques unethical conduct rooted in greed.