Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37
मातुः पितुर्वा बलिनः क्रेतुरग्नेः शुनोऽपि वा । इति संचिंत्य व्यहरन्नमरा इव ईश्वराः
mātuḥ piturvā balinaḥ kreturagneḥ śuno'pi vā | iti saṃciṃtya vyaharannamarā iva īśvarāḥ
「この身は母のものか、父のものか、力ある者のものか、買い手のものか、火のものか、あるいは犬のものですらある」と思い巡らし、そのように理屈づけたのち、かの「主」たちは不死者のごとく、責めを免れるかのように振る舞う。
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative mode)
Scene: An allegorical procession of ‘claimants’ around a human body: mother and father, a strongman, a buyer with coins, a sacrificial fire, and a dog; above them, arrogant ‘lords’ stride as if deathless—while Yama’s shadow looms faintly, implying accountability.
FAQs
Rationalizations about ‘ownership’ can become excuses for cruelty; dharma demands accountability and compassion.
No tirtha is mentioned; it is an ethical critique within the discourse.
No ritual prescription; it exposes wrongful reasoning that leads to adharma.