Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18
जाग्रतां तु मनुष्याणां चौराः कुर्वंति किं खलाः । भयभीतश्चालसश्च तथा चाशुचिरेव यः
jāgratāṃ tu manuṣyāṇāṃ caurāḥ kurvaṃti kiṃ khalāḥ | bhayabhītaścālasaśca tathā cāśucireva yaḥ
जाग्रतामपि मनुष्याणां चौराः किं न कुर्वन्ति खलाः? भयभीतः आलसश्चाशुचिश्च यः, स कथं पथे धैर्यं लभेत?
Narrative voice (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)
Listener: brāhmaṇas / Arjuna
Scene: An allegory of a traveler-sādhaka walking a narrow path at dawn; despite open eyes, shadowy thieves lurk. Three chains labeled fear, laziness, and impurity weigh him down; a lamp of discipline lifts the path into clarity.
FAQs
Fear, laziness, and inner impurity weaken dharmic resolve; spiritual progress needs alertness and steadiness.
The surrounding passage points toward Stambhatīrtha within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa’s sacred-geography narrative.
No direct ritual is stated here; it underscores inner preparedness (purity and courage) for dharmic acts and pilgrimage.