Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18
अशक्तश्चलितुं वापि मर्तुमिच्छामि नापि च । सर्वे लाभाः सातिमाना इति सत्या बतश्रुतिः
aśaktaścalituṃ vāpi martumicchāmi nāpi ca | sarve lābhāḥ sātimānā iti satyā bataśrutiḥ
എനിക്ക് നീങ്ങാനും അശക്തിയാണ്; എങ്കിലും മരിക്കാനും ആഗ്രഹമില്ല. അയ്യോ! പുരാതന വചനം സത്യം—ഓരോ ലാഭവും അഹങ്കാരവും വേദനയും ചേർന്ന ഭാരത്തോടെയാണു വരുന്നത്.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa (deductive attribution)
Scene: A weakened figure reclines or sits supported, expressing inability to move; the face shows conflict—neither desire to live in suffering nor to die—while a narrator/sage listens compassionately.
FAQs
Worldly ‘gains’ often carry hidden suffering—pride, anxiety, and attachment—so one should cultivate discernment and contentment.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it serves as a general dharmic reflection within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa narrative.
None in this verse; it is an ethical-philosophical observation rather than a vrata or tīrtha-ritual instruction.