Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 5
यथा निशा विना चन्द्रं दिवसो भास्करं विना । न शोभते मुहूर्तं वै तथा सेना विनायका
yathā niśā vinā candraṃ divaso bhāskaraṃ vinā | na śobhate muhūrtaṃ vai tathā senā vināyakā
Seperti malam tanpa bulan dan siang tanpa matahari tidak bersinar walau sesaat, demikianlah juga bala tentera tanpa pemimpin tidak akan berwibawa dan tidak dapat berkembang.
Mārkaṇḍeya (narrating)
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (implied)
Scene: A symbolic composition: night sky dim without the moon, day muted without the sun; juxtaposed with an army in disarray lacking a commander—an allegory for leadership as illumination.
FAQs
Right leadership (nāyaka/senāpati) is essential for harmony and success, just as celestial lights are essential for the beauty of time.
None; the verse uses a metaphor within the Skanda-origin narrative.
None.