Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 27
स्वपुण्यसंख्यया प्राप्ते यस्माद्विभ्रश्यते नरैः । एवं दुःखसमायुक्तः स्वर्गो नैवेष्यते बुधैः
svapuṇyasaṃkhyayā prāpte yasmādvibhraśyate naraiḥ | evaṃ duḥkhasamāyuktaḥ svargo naiveṣyate budhaiḥ
സ്വന്തം പുണ്യത്തിന്റെ അളവാൽ ലഭിച്ച സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മനുഷ്യൻ വീണ്ടും വീഴുന്നു; അതിനാൽ ദുഃഖബന്ധിതമായ ആ സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തെ ബുദ്ധിമാന്മാർ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല।
Īśvara (Śiva) (deduced from context)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: munis
Scene: Śiva’s tone turns grave: he describes the fall from heaven after merit is spent; sages appear reflective, some with lowered gaze, recognizing the sorrow inherent in temporary rewards.
FAQs
Merit-based rewards end when puṇya is exhausted; the wise aim for liberation beyond cyclical gain and loss.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra, presented as a setting where higher-than-heaven goals are taught and pursued.
No specific rite here; the verse motivates seeking mokṣa rather than temporary svarga.