Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41
एवं भूतमयं देहं पंचभूतसमुद्भवैः । अन्नैर्यथा वृद्धिमेति तदहं वर्णयामि ते
evaṃ bhūtamayaṃ dehaṃ paṃcabhūtasamudbhavaiḥ | annairyathā vṛddhimeti tadahaṃ varṇayāmi te
Demikianlah, tubuh ini—yang tersusun daripada unsur-unsur—bertumbuh melalui makanan yang lahir daripada lima unsur agung. Aku akan menghuraikan kepadamu bagaimana pertambahan itu berlaku.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Scene: Instructor explains how elemental food becomes bodily growth; visual metaphor of five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) transforming into nourishment entering the body.
FAQs
The body’s dependence on elemental food underscores impermanence and encourages spiritual priority over bodily identity.
No location is praised; the passage is instructional rather than tīrtha-centered.
No explicit ritual; it introduces an explanation of nourishment and growth.