Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 54
एवमेतेन देहेन किं कृत्यं भोजनोत्तमैः । वर्धितेन न चेत्पुण्यं कुरुते पशुवच्च तत्
evametena dehena kiṃ kṛtyaṃ bhojanottamaiḥ | vardhitena na cetpuṇyaṃ kurute paśuvacca tat
Demikian juga, apakah gunanya menyuburkan tubuh ini dengan makanan yang paling baik, jika—walau telah dibesarkan—ia tidak melakukan kebajikan (punya) dan hidup seperti binatang?
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A contrast tableau: on one side, a well-fed person indulging; on the other, a devotee using the same strength for worship and charity. A subtle animal silhouette behind the indulgent figure symbolizes ‘paśuvat’.
FAQs
Nourishment and comfort are pointless unless they support puṇya; otherwise human life sinks to mere instinct.
No holy site is mentioned in this verse.
No explicit ritual; it urges merit-making actions as the true purpose of sustaining the body.