Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 196
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा कृच्छ्राद्वार्ता प्रसिध्यति । लोभोऽधृतिः शिवं त्यक्त्वा धर्माणां संकरस्तथा
manasā karmaṇā vācā kṛcchrādvārtā prasidhyati | lobho'dhṛtiḥ śivaṃ tyaktvā dharmāṇāṃ saṃkarastathā
Pela mente, pela ação e pela palavra, o sustento só se alcança com grande dificuldade. A cobiça e a falta de firmeza—ao abandonar Śiva—também geram confusão e mistura dos dharmas.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A stark scene of people struggling for livelihood—parched fields, anxious merchants, quarrels—while a small shrine or liṅga stands neglected; in contrast, a steadfast devotee lights a lamp, symbolizing return to Śiva and dhṛti.
FAQs
When devotion to Śiva and inner steadiness are lost, greed increases, livelihoods become strained, and dharma itself becomes confused.
None; the verse is ethical and theological rather than geographical.
No explicit ritual is prescribed; the implicit remedy is steadfast Śiva-orientation (śiva-niṣṭhā) in life.