Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5
शोच्यं पातकिनं मां च संस्तुवध्वं कथं सुराः । पंचानामपि यो भर्ता प्राकृतोऽसौ न कीर्त्यते
śocyaṃ pātakinaṃ māṃ ca saṃstuvadhvaṃ kathaṃ surāḥ | paṃcānāmapi yo bhartā prākṛto'sau na kīrtyate
“Wahai para dewa, bagaimana kalian memuji aku—seorang pendosa yang patut disesali? Bahkan yang menjadi penguasa atas lima indria, bila jatuh menjadi duniawi belaka, tidak layak dimuliakan.”
Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya) (deduced: the 'great-souled one' addressing devas)
Listener: Devas (addressed); Pārtha (addressed by narrator)
Scene: Skanda speaks with calm severity, pointing inward (toward the heart) as devas stand with folded hands, their praise transformed into attentive listening.
FAQs
Praise is secondary to purity: self-mastery and dharmic intention matter more than external victory or acclaim.
No holy site is referenced in this verse.
None directly; the verse sets up the need for prāyaścitta (atonement) and ethical reflection.