Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 54
व्यास उवाच । कष्टं वने निवसतोऽत्र सदा नरस्य नो केवलं निजतनुप्रभवं भवेच्च । दैवं च पित्र्यमखिलं न विभाति कृत्यं तस्माद्गृहे निवसतात्महितं प्रचिन्त्यम्
vyāsa uvāca | kaṣṭaṃ vane nivasato'tra sadā narasya no kevalaṃ nijatanuprabhavaṃ bhavecca | daivaṃ ca pitryamakhilaṃ na vibhāti kṛtyaṃ tasmādgṛhe nivasatātmahitaṃ pracintyam
Vyāsa bersabda: Bagi seorang yang terus-menerus tinggal di hutan, kesukaran timbul—bukan hanya yang lahir dari tubuhnya sendiri. Lagi pula, seluruh kewajiban kepada para dewa dan kepada para leluhur tidak tampak cemerlang, yakni tidak dapat dijalankan dengan semestinya. Karena itu, sambil tinggal di rumah, hendaknya ia dengan penuh pertimbangan menempuh apa yang sungguh bermanfaat bagi diri (ātman).
Vyāsa
Scene: Vyāsa instructs on the limits of constant forest-dwelling: an ascetic hut in a sparse forest contrasts with a household courtyard where fire-altar, offerings, and pitṛ-tarpaṇa are performed; the teaching is calm and didactic.
FAQs
Renunciation without capacity to fulfill essential dharmic obligations is incomplete; one should pursue spiritual good while honoring duties.
No particular tīrtha is named; the verse supports the Mahātmya’s broader dharma framework that makes pilgrimage meaningful.
It points to daiva and pitṛya obligations (offerings/rites to gods and ancestors) as duties more practicable within gṛhastha life.
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