Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 49
कथं स्वर्गो मुमुक्षा वा साध्यते दृषदा यथा । क्रोधो वा यदि संत्याज्यस्ततः शत्रुक्षयः कथम्
kathaṃ svargo mumukṣā vā sādhyate dṛṣadā yathā | krodho vā yadi saṃtyājyastataḥ śatrukṣayaḥ katham
ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ କିମ୍ବା ମୋକ୍ଷାଭିଲାଷ—କେବଳ ଗୋଟିଏ ପଥରରେ ସାଧ୍ୟ ହେବା ପରି କିପରି ସିଦ୍ଧ ହେବ? ଆଉ ଯଦି କ୍ରୋଧ ସତ୍ୟସତ୍ୟ ତ୍ୟାଜ୍ୟ, ତେବେ ଶତ୍ରୁକ୍ଷୟ କିପରି ହେବ?
Unspecified questioner (prior to 'Bāla uvāca' in v.53; likely the listener raising doubts)
Listener: Youthful teacher (Kaumāra/Skanda-figure)
Scene: A warrior-seeker stands at a crossroads: one path to a luminous shrine (mokṣa), another to a battlefield; a calm teacher indicates a middle way—action without anger—while a dark red figure of Krodha tries to seize the warrior.
FAQs
It voices a common doubt: renouncing anger seems to conflict with worldly aims like overcoming adversaries.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is part of a philosophical-ethical inquiry.
None; the focus is on the practical tension between inner virtue and worldly action.