Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 61
श्रीशुक उवाच । रसता सर्पता धूलि लोके त्वशुचिना चिरम् । मुनेऽत्र शिशुना लोकस्तुष्टिं याति स बालिशः
śrīśuka uvāca | rasatā sarpatā dhūli loke tvaśucinā ciram | mune'tra śiśunā lokastuṣṭiṃ yāti sa bāliśaḥ
Śrī Śuka bersabda: Di dunia ini sejak lama ada debu yang tidak suci, menjerit-jerit dan merayap ke sana sini. Namun, wahai muni, manusia menjadi puas hanya kerana seorang bayi; demikianlah kebudak-budakan dunia.
Śrī Śuka
Listener: Muni (explicitly addressed: ‘mune’)
Scene: Śukadeva points to a symbolic ‘world’ scene: dusty lanes, crawling infants, crying sounds; yet adults smile and applaud—an ironic tableau. Śuka remains serene, indicating higher perspective.
FAQs
The world’s satisfactions can be naïve and superficial; discernment is needed to seek lasting good.
No specific holy site is mentioned in this particular verse.
None; the verse is a reflection on worldly psychology and attachment.