Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18
इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच । मदीयं सुकृतं ब्रह्मन्कथं भूमौ भवेदिति । किं कर्तव्यं मया नैतन्मम चेतसि तिष्ठति
indradyumna uvāca | madīyaṃ sukṛtaṃ brahmankathaṃ bhūmau bhavediti | kiṃ kartavyaṃ mayā naitanmama cetasi tiṣṭhati
ਇੰਦਰਦ੍ਯੁਮਨ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: ਹੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਨ! ਮੇਰਾ ਪੁੰਨ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਬਦਲ ਜਾਂ ਨਾਸ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ? ਮੈਂ ਕੀ ਕਰਾਂ? ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਮੇਰੇ ਚਿੱਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਟਿਕਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ।
Indradyumna (identified by ‘Indradyumna uvāca’)
Listener: Audience of the Purāṇa (implied), with the internal listener Brahmā
Scene: King Indradyumna, troubled, addresses Brahmā with folded hands, asking how his accumulated merit could be altered on earth and what action is required.
FAQs
The Purāṇas encourage inquiry: understanding karma and time clarifies why one must keep renewing dharma rather than relying on past merit.
No tīrtha is named; the focus is philosophical—merit, mind, and karmic process.
None directly; Indradyumna asks for guidance on what action should be done.