Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 17
यथा वृक्षेषु वल्लीषु कुसुमानि फलानि च । स्वकालं नातिवर्तंते तद्वत्कर्म पुराकृतम्
yathā vṛkṣeṣu vallīṣu kusumāni phalāni ca | svakālaṃ nātivartaṃte tadvatkarma purākṛtam
വൃക്ഷങ്ങളിലും വള്ളികളിലും പുഷ്പവും ഫലവും തത്തത്തേതായ കാലത്തേ പാകമാകുന്നു, കാലം ലംഘിക്കില്ല; അതുപോലെ പൂർവ്വകൃത കർമ്മവും തന്റെ സമയത്തേ ഫലിക്കുന്നു।
Skanda (deduced: Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration style)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A sacred grove by a tīrtha: trees and creepers bearing buds, blossoms, and ripe fruits in distinct seasons, while a contemplative pilgrim reflects on time-bound karma.
FAQs
Karma ripens by its own law and timing; patience and steady dharma are advised rather than anxiety or manipulation.
No particular location is named in this verse; it supports the tīrtha narrative by explaining how merit and demerit mature.
None; it conveys a principle through a natural metaphor.