Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 20
अकृष्णः कृष्णतामम्ब कथं गच्छेद्धयोत्तमः । दासत्वं प्राप्स्यसे त्वं हि पणेनानेन सुव्रते
akṛṣṇaḥ kṛṣṇatāmamba kathaṃ gaccheddhayottamaḥ | dāsatvaṃ prāpsyase tvaṃ hi paṇenānena suvrate
“Ibu, bagaimana mungkin kuda yang paling utama itu—yang tidak hitam—menjadi hitam? Dengan pertaruhan ini, wahai yang berikrar suci, ibu pasti akan jatuh ke dalam perhambaan.”
Kadrū’s sons (Nāgas), addressing Kadrū
Listener: Audience within Revā Khaṇḍa frame
Scene: Serpent-sons or relatives addressing Kadrū respectfully yet firmly; an imagined vision of the radiant white celestial horse in the background as a truth-symbol; warning of servitude.
FAQs
Reality cannot be bent by desire; wagering against truth leads to bondage and loss of freedom.
No tīrtha is directly praised in this verse.
None; it is an ethical warning within the story.