Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 23
अन्यदेहांतरे राजञ्छूद्रजातिसमुद्भवः । शूद्रजातिरियं साध्वी तव पत्नी ह्यभूत्पुरा
anyadehāṃtare rājañchūdrajātisamudbhavaḥ | śūdrajātiriyaṃ sādhvī tava patnī hyabhūtpurā
Wahai Raja, dalam tubuh yang lain engkau terlahir dari golongan Śūdra. Dan perempuan suci ini—istrimu—dahulu pun berasal dari kelahiran Śūdra.
Vasiṣṭha
Listener: King (māhīpāla)
Scene: The sage narrates a flashback: a humble couple in simple garments, dignified and virtuous, contrasted with the present royal setting—suggesting the wheel of births.
FAQs
It emphasizes rebirth and the unfolding of karma over lifetimes, relativizing worldly status before dharma and merit.
No tīrtha is specified in this verse; it is part of the karmic backstory within the Arbuda-khaṇḍa.
None; it is a narrative disclosure about prior birth.