Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 52
हित्वा श्रुतेरध्ययनं योन्यत्पठितुमिच्छति । स दोग्ध्रीं धेनुमुत्सृज्य ग्रामक्रोडीं दुधुक्षति
hitvā śruteradhyayanaṃ yonyatpaṭhitumicchati | sa dogdhrīṃ dhenumutsṛjya grāmakroḍīṃ dudhukṣati
Quem abandona o estudo da Śruti e deseja ler outras coisas é como o homem que solta a vaca leiteira e tenta ordenhar uma porca da aldeia.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: Allegorical scene: a man releases a gentle cow with full udder and runs toward a squealing sow in a village lane, trying to milk it; in the background, a scholar’s study space with neglected manuscripts symbolizes forsaken Śruti.
FAQs
Neglecting foundational sacred learning for lesser pursuits is spiritually unproductive, like choosing an inferior source for nourishment.
As part of Kāśī Khaṇḍa, it supports the dharmic culture associated with Kāśī as a center of Śruti and right conduct.
An implied prescription: prioritize Śruti-adhyayana (Vedic study) over secondary or distracting studies.