Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 58
स कदाचिन्मृगयुभिः पापर्धि व्यसनातुरः । सार्धं विवेशारण्यानि गृष्टिपृष्ठानुगो हयी
sa kadācinmṛgayubhiḥ pāpardhi vyasanāturaḥ | sārdhaṃ viveśāraṇyāni gṛṣṭipṛṣṭhānugo hayī
ஒருமுறை பாவமிகு வேட்டையின் பழக்கத்தால் துயருற்றவன், வேட்டையாடிகளுடன் காடுகளில் நுழைந்தான்; கூட்டத்தின் பின்னே நெருங்கிப் பின்தொடரும் குதிரையில் அவன் ஏறியிருந்தான்।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Scene: A dynamic forest hunt: King Durdama on horseback with hunters, dogs, and bows; startled deer flee; dust rises; the king’s face shows agitation and vice; the forest appears dense and shadowed, hinting at impending karmic reversal.
FAQs
Addictions rooted in harm (like cruel hunting) are framed as sin-increasing habits that propel one toward downfall—until grace intervenes.
The verse is part of the approach to Kāśī’s sacred woodland setting that will reveal its transforming power.
None stated; the verse describes conduct (vyasana) rather than prescribing a rite.