Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
स्वार्थोद्युक्तधियो ये स्युरन्वर्थास्तेप्यसुंधराः । मरणं प्रकृतिश्चैव जीवितं विकृतिर्यदा
svārthodyuktadhiyo ye syuranvarthāstepyasuṃdharāḥ | maraṇaṃ prakṛtiścaiva jīvitaṃ vikṛtiryadā
Aqueles cuja mente se empenha apenas no próprio interesse—embora chamados “vivos”—não são, de fato, portadores da vida. Quando a morte é tida como “natural” e a própria vida se torna uma distorção, os valores foram invertidos.
Indradyumna (contextual continuation)
Scene: A contemplative figure stands at a crossroads: one path crowded with grasping hands and gold (self-interest), the other with a lamp, water-pot, and open palms (dharma). A subtle motif shows a corpse-like shadow clinging to the selfish path, while the dharmic path glows with life.
FAQs
A life centered on selfishness is portrayed as spiritually hollow, as if life itself has lost its proper meaning.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is nīti (ethical instruction) within the Purāṇic story.
None; the emphasis is on inner disposition—moving from svārtha to hitācaraṇa (benefiting others).