Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18
जाग्रतां तु मनुष्याणां चौराः कुर्वंति किं खलाः । भयभीतश्चालसश्च तथा चाशुचिरेव यः
jāgratāṃ tu manuṣyāṇāṃ caurāḥ kurvaṃti kiṃ khalāḥ | bhayabhītaścālasaśca tathā cāśucireva yaḥ
Walaupun manusia berjaga, apakah yang tidak mampu dilakukan oleh pencuri yang jahat? Dan orang yang takut, malas, serta tidak suci—bagaimanakah dia dapat memperoleh keteguhan di jalan ini?
Narrative voice (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)
Listener: brāhmaṇas / Arjuna
Scene: An allegory of a traveler-sādhaka walking a narrow path at dawn; despite open eyes, shadowy thieves lurk. Three chains labeled fear, laziness, and impurity weigh him down; a lamp of discipline lifts the path into clarity.
FAQs
Fear, laziness, and inner impurity weaken dharmic resolve; spiritual progress needs alertness and steadiness.
The surrounding passage points toward Stambhatīrtha within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa’s sacred-geography narrative.
No direct ritual is stated here; it underscores inner preparedness (purity and courage) for dharmic acts and pilgrimage.