Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14
गर्भ उवाच । तात जानाम्यहं सर्वमेतत्परम दुर्लभम् । किं तु बिभेमि चातिमात्रं कालमार्गस्य नित्यशः
garbha uvāca | tāta jānāmyahaṃ sarvametatparama durlabham | kiṃ tu bibhemi cātimātraṃ kālamārgasya nityaśaḥ
ਗਰਭ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: ‘ਪਿਤਾ ਜੀ, ਮੈਂ ਇਹ ਸਭ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਪਰਮ ਦੁਰਲਭ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਮੈਂ ਨਿੱਤ ਹੀ ਅਤਿਅਧਿਕ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਾਲ ਦੇ ਮਾਰਗ ਤੋਂ ਡਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।’
Garbha (the unborn child/embryo)
Listener: Tāta (addressed as father/elder instructor)
Scene: An embryo speaking within the womb to a paternal voice, surrounded by a dark-red, enclosed space; outside, a looming personification of Time—wheel, hourglass, or devouring serpent—suggesting constant fear.
FAQs
Even with knowledge of life’s rarity, beings fear the overpowering force of Time that drives saṃsāra.
None; this is a philosophical passage within a dialogue.
No ritual is specified; the verse introduces the theme of escaping the bondage of Kāla.