Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 81
क्व देवाः संति मिथ्यैतद्दृश्यंते चेद्भवंत्यपि । सर्वा च कूटविप्राणां द्रव्यायैषा विकल्पना
kva devāḥ saṃti mithyaitaddṛśyaṃte cedbhavaṃtyapi | sarvā ca kūṭaviprāṇāṃ dravyāyaiṣā vikalpanā
‘ദേവന്മാർ എവിടെയാണ്? ഇതെല്ലാം അസത്യം. അവർ ‘കാണപ്പെടുന്നു’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞ് ഉണ്ടെന്നു കരുതിയാലും, ഇതെല്ലാം ധനത്തിനായി കപടബ്രാഹ്മണർ കെട്ടിച്ചമച്ച പദ്ധതിയത്രേ.’
Unspecified in snippet (within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa narrating a discourse)
Scene: A skeptic speaks sharply in a public setting, dismissing gods and accusing brahmins of greed; listeners react with shock, while a dharmic figure prepares to respond.
FAQs
It condemns religious hypocrisy—using sacred claims as a pretext for gaining wealth—and warns against deceit in the name of dharma.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it is a general polemical statement within the discourse.
None; the verse critiques motivations behind religious activity rather than prescribing a rite.