Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 81
धर्मज्ञोऽस्मीति यो मोहादात्मानं प्रतिपद्यते । स वायुं मुष्टिना बद्धुमीहते कृपणो नरः
dharmajño'smīti yo mohādātmānaṃ pratipadyate | sa vāyuṃ muṣṭinā baddhumīhate kṛpaṇo naraḥ
ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਮੋਹ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ‘ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਜਾਣਕਾਰ ਹਾਂ’ ਸਮਝ ਬੈਠਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਕੰਗਾਲ ਜੀਵ ਹੈ—ਉਹ ਮੁੱਠ ਨਾਲ ਹਵਾ ਨੂੰ ਬੰਨ੍ਹਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa convention)
Listener: (implied) the audience; utterance by Yājñavalkya
Scene: A symbolic scene: a man clenches his fist at empty air while wind swirls visibly around, mocking the attempt; beside him a compassionate sage looks on, illustrating the folly and pity of self-proclaimed dharma-knowers.
FAQs
Self-proclaimed righteousness born of delusion is futile; true dharma requires lived discipline and humility, not mere self-labeling.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as a general dharma-instruction within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.
None explicitly; the verse critiques inner pride rather than prescribing a rite.