Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40
कुलधर्मं व्यपास्यैष वर्तते कुलपांसनः । चिरं चिंतितमद्यामुं घातयिष्याम्यसंशयम्
kuladharmaṃ vyapāsyaiṣa vartate kulapāṃsanaḥ | ciraṃ ciṃtitamadyāmuṃ ghātayiṣyāmyasaṃśayam
‘କୁଳଧର୍ମ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରି ଏହି କୁଳାଙ୍ଗାର ନିଜ ଇଚ୍ଛା ଅନୁସାରେ ଆଚରଣ କରୁଛି। ଆଜି ନିଃସନ୍ଦେହରେ ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ହତ୍ୟା କରିବି, ଯାହା ମୁଁ ଦୀର୍ଘ ଦିନ ଧରି ଚିନ୍ତା କରୁଥିଲି।’
Tārākṣa (deduced from narrative continuity)
Listener: Ṛṣis (frame typical)
Scene: Tārākṣa in a heated monologue, pointing accusatorily, face flushed; behind him, servants await; the intended victim stands at a distance, calm or startled, with Kāśī’s lanes/pillars hinted.
FAQs
When dharma is abandoned, relationships degrade into suspicion and violence; inner resentment matures into destructive action.
The broader setting is Kāśī in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, but this verse itself is a dialogue of intent rather than a tirtha-glorification line.
None; it portrays a moral crisis and a vow of harm, functioning as a negative example.