Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 74
मृगाणां पक्षिणामित्थं दृष्ट्वा चेष्टां त्रिविष्टपम् । अकांडपातसंकष्टं निनिंदुस्त्रिदशा बहु
mṛgāṇāṃ pakṣiṇāmitthaṃ dṛṣṭvā ceṣṭāṃ triviṣṭapam | akāṃḍapātasaṃkaṣṭaṃ niniṃdustridaśā bahu
ମୃଗ ଓ ପକ୍ଷୀମାନଙ୍କ ଏପରି ଆଚରଣ ଦେଖି, ତ୍ରିଦଶମାନେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ବହୁତ ନିନ୍ଦା କଲେ—ହଠାତ୍ ପତନର ସଙ୍କଟ-ଦୁଃଖରେ ବ୍ୟାକୁଳ ହୋଇ।
Skanda (deduced; narrative evaluation)
Scene: Gods in Svarga observe the gentle, disciplined behavior of animals and birds and, feeling the pain of heaven’s precariousness and sudden fall, criticize Svarga’s instability; a subtle contrast with the serenity of true liberation is implied.
FAQs
Heaven is unstable and subject to ‘fall’; the narrative implicitly elevates liberation and the mokṣa-kṣetra ideal above mere svarga-merit.
By contrast and implication, Kāśī/Avimukta is glorified as a superior spiritual destination to Svarga.
None; it frames a theological comparison—svarga’s precariousness versus the higher promise of liberation.