Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43
यस्य पुण्यं पृथुतरं पापमल्पं हि जायते । स पूर्वं दुःखितो भूत्वा पश्चात्सौख्यान्वितो भवेत्
yasya puṇyaṃ pṛthutaraṃ pāpamalpaṃ hi jāyate | sa pūrvaṃ duḥkhito bhūtvā paścātsaukhyānvito bhavet
ആരുടെ പുണ്യം വളരെ കൂടുതലും പാപം അല്പവുമാണോ, അവൻ ആദ്യം ദുഃഖിതനായി, പിന്നീടു സുഖസമ്പന്നനാകുന്നു.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A life-arc tableau: first, a devotee faces adversity; later, the same figure is shown prosperous and serene, indicating the sequential ripening of pāpa then puṇya.
FAQs
Karmic results may ripen in sequence; a predominance of merit ultimately brings well-being even if hardship comes first.
None; the verse discusses the timing of karmic fruition.
No explicit ritual; it encourages patience and continued dharma when facing early adversity.