Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 46
मस्त कस्थायिनं मृत्युं यदि पश्येदयं जनः । आहारोऽपि न रोचेत किमुताकार्यकारिता
masta kasthāyinaṃ mṛtyuṃ yadi paśyedayaṃ janaḥ | āhāro'pi na roceta kimutākāryakāritā
ஒருவன் தன் தலைமேல் நின்ற மரணத்தைப் பார்த்தால், உணவும் இனிக்காது; அப்படியிருக்க, அவன் தவறான செயல்களில் எப்படிச் செல்ல முடியும்?
Brāhmaṇa
Listener: The addressed group (women/others)
Scene: A stark allegory: Death poised above a person’s head like a shadow; the person turns away from food, face pale, hands withdrawn, realizing the futility of wrongdoing.
FAQs
Remembering mortality curbs reckless desire; dharma is strengthened by mṛtyu-smaraṇa and sober discernment.
None is mentioned in this verse.
No explicit rite is prescribed; it recommends a contemplative discipline: awareness of death to prevent wrongdoing.