Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 79
कृतः प्रयत्नो हि महानमृतार्थं त्वया शठ । अश्वमेधशतेनैव यद्राज्यं प्राप्तवानसि । अपि तच्च पराधीन तन्न जानासि दुर्मते
kṛtaḥ prayatno hi mahānamṛtārthaṃ tvayā śaṭha | aśvamedhaśatenaiva yadrājyaṃ prāptavānasi | api tacca parādhīna tanna jānāsi durmate
Wahai si penipu, engkau telah berusaha besar demi “keabadian”. Dengan seratus korban Aśvamedha engkau meraih kedaulatan; namun bahkan itu pun bergantung pada kuasa yang lain—hal ini, dalam pertimbanganmu yang sesat, tidak kau mengerti.
Unknown (Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative voice; addressing a proud ruler/deity—context suggests Indra)
Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha
Type: kshetra
Scene: Indra is confronted: behind him, symbolic imagery of a grand Aśvamedha arena fades like a mirage, while the austere Kedāra landscape and liṅga remain steady; the message: sovereignty is borrowed, not absolute.
FAQs
Ritual power and political sovereignty are not absolute; without higher grace and right understanding, they remain dependent and unstable.
The Kedāra region frames the chapter, but this verse critiques pride in sacrifice and rulership rather than praising a specific tirtha.
Aśvamedha is referenced as an act performed, not prescribed; the verse warns against relying on ritual for egoic immortality.