Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16
किं ते शंखेन खङ्गेन किं ते मंत्रास्त्रविद्यया । किं च तेन प्रयत्नेन किं प्रभावेण भूयसा
kiṃ te śaṃkhena khaṅgena kiṃ te maṃtrāstravidyayā | kiṃ ca tena prayatnena kiṃ prabhāveṇa bhūyasā
Какая тебе польза от раковины и меча? Какая польза от знания мантр и оружейного искусства? Какая польза от всех усилий — и даже от великой «силы», — если в час нужды она подводит?
A grieving woman (queen/consort), continuing the rebuke of the king
Listener: राजा/वीर (implied)
Scene: Foreground: conch and sword placed unused; a learned warrior with mantra-scrolls looks helpless; the admonisher points to the futility of these at the crisis moment.
FAQs
Skills, mantras, and power are validated by dharmic application—especially protecting the vulnerable—rather than by possession alone.
No site is referenced; the verse is ethical and didactic.
None; it critiques performative strength and unused capability.