Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 158
इदं पितृभ्यो देवेभ्यो द्विजेभ्यः पावकाय च । एवं कस्माद्विस्तराः स्युर्मनः कायादिकष्टदाः
idaṃ pitṛbhyo devebhyo dvijebhyaḥ pāvakāya ca | evaṃ kasmādvistarāḥ syurmanaḥ kāyādikaṣṭadāḥ
‘ഇത് പിതൃകൾക്കായി, ഇത് ദേവന്മാർക്കായി, ഇത് ദ്വിജന്മാർക്കായി, ഇത് അഗ്നിക്കായി’—ഇങ്ങനെ പറയാൻ കഴിയുമ്പോൾ, മനസ്സിനും ശരീരത്തിനും ക്ലേശം തരുന്ന വിപുലമായ വിധികൾ എന്തിന്?
Rājā (the king)
Scene: The king proposes a minimalist formula for allocating offerings to multiple recipients and questions the need for elaborate, strenuous procedures; ritual paraphernalia and a calm teacherly presence frame the debate.
FAQs
It challenges mere minimalism in ritual, asking why dharma prescribes detailed observances rather than only brief verbal dedication.
No holy site is identified in this verse.
It references dedicatory statements to Pitṛs, Devas, Dvijas, and Agni, while questioning the need for extensive ritual detail.