Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 5
तत्रापि नेतुं यदि मां समर्था यत्रासते वारिचयाः समेताः । अतोऽन्यथा नाहमलीकवादी प्राणे प्रयाते मुनिवाक्यकारी
tatrāpi netuṃ yadi māṃ samarthā yatrāsate vāricayāḥ sametāḥ | ato'nyathā nāhamalīkavādī prāṇe prayāte munivākyakārī
“Jika kalian sanggup membawaku ke tempat berkumpulnya segala massa perairan itu, bawalah aku ke sana. Jika tidak, aku bukan pendusta; sekalipun nyawa pergi, aku tetap menunaikan sabda sang resi.”
Vāḍava (reported within Īśvara’s narration)
Listener: Devī
Scene: The speaker stands resolute, one hand raised in oath-like gesture, eyes unwavering; devas appear hesitant, as if weighing whether they can guide him. The path toward a hidden water-mass is suggested by a distant glimmer or cavern-river.
FAQs
Satya (truthfulness) and fidelity to a sage’s instruction are upheld as dharma—even above personal survival.
The Prabhāsakṣetra māhātmya frame continues; the verse stresses dharma-values supporting the sacred narrative.
None explicitly; it highlights vow-keeping and adherence to muni-vākya as a dharmic discipline.