स्कन्दोपाख्यानम् — उत्पातशान्तिः, स्वाहारूपविचारः, कौमारमङ्गलक्रियाः
त्रयस्त्रिंशद् यथा देवा: सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमा: । सम्पूज्या: सर्वलोकस्य तथा वृद्धाविमौ मम,जैसे समस्त संसारके लिये इन्द्र आदि तैंतीस- देवता पूजनीय हैं, उसी प्रकार मेरे लिये ये दोनों बूढ़े माता-पिता ही आराधनीय हैं
trayastrinśad yathā devāḥ sarve śakra-purogamāḥ | sampūjyāḥ sarva-lokasya tathā vṛddhāv imau mama ||
Sang pemburu berkata: “Sebagaimana tiga puluh tiga dewa, dipimpin Indra, dihormati oleh seluruh dunia, demikian pula bagiku kedua orang tua renta ini—ibuku dan ayahku—adalah yang patut disembah.”
व्याध उवाच
True dharma is shown through lived reverence and service: honoring one’s parents is presented as a form of worship comparable to venerating the gods, emphasizing gratitude, duty, and ethical conduct in everyday life.
The hunter (Vyādha), while instructing his listener on dharma, explains his own practice: he treats his aged parents as his highest deities, asserting that their service is his primary religious obligation.