Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37
मातुः पितुर्वा बलिनः क्रेतुरग्नेः शुनोऽपि वा । इति संचिंत्य व्यहरन्नमरा इव ईश्वराः
mātuḥ piturvā balinaḥ kreturagneḥ śuno'pi vā | iti saṃciṃtya vyaharannamarā iva īśvarāḥ
Setelah berfikir, “(Tubuh ini milik) ibu, atau bapa, atau orang kuat, atau pembeli, atau Api, atau bahkan seekor anjing,” maka para ‘tuan’ itu berkelakuan—sesudah alasan demikian—seperti para abadi, seolah-olah bebas daripada pertanggungjawaban.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative mode)
Scene: An allegorical procession of ‘claimants’ around a human body: mother and father, a strongman, a buyer with coins, a sacrificial fire, and a dog; above them, arrogant ‘lords’ stride as if deathless—while Yama’s shadow looms faintly, implying accountability.
FAQs
Rationalizations about ‘ownership’ can become excuses for cruelty; dharma demands accountability and compassion.
No tirtha is mentioned; it is an ethical critique within the discourse.
No ritual prescription; it exposes wrongful reasoning that leads to adharma.