Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23
पदमेकं प्रतिश्रुत्य न ददाति हि दुर्मतिः । तस्मात्त्वया गृहीतव्यं तृतीयं पदमेव च
padamekaṃ pratiśrutya na dadāti hi durmatiḥ | tasmāttvayā gṛhītavyaṃ tṛtīyaṃ padameva ca
‘ഒരു പാദം തരാമെന്ന് വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്തിട്ടും ആ ദുർബുദ്ധി നൽകുന്നില്ല. അതിനാൽ നീ മൂന്നാം പാദവും പിടിച്ചെടുക്കുക.’
Vāmana (Viṣṇu) speaking to Garuḍa (from immediate context)
Tirtha: Kedāra (frame)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: Vāmana’s instruction sharpens: Bali withholds the promised step; Garuḍa is ordered to seize the third—foretelling the moment of surrender and subjugation.
FAQs
Breaking a vow undermines dharma; the cosmos is sustained by truthfulness (satya) and fulfillment of pledged words.
The Kedārakhaṇḍa context provides the sacred-authoritative frame; the verse itself is ethical and narrative rather than topographical.
No explicit ritual; it stresses the dharmic obligation of honoring a pledged offering.