Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 57
सेवामन्ये प्रपद्यंते श्ववृत्तिरिति या स्मृता । हिंसाप्रायां बहुक्लेशां कृषिं चैव तथा परे
sevāmanye prapadyaṃte śvavṛttiriti yā smṛtā | hiṃsāprāyāṃ bahukleśāṃ kṛṣiṃ caiva tathā pare
சிலர் சேவையையே நாடுகின்றனர்; அது ஸ்மிருதியில் ‘நாய்வாழ்வு’ எனக் கூறப்படுகிறது. மற்றவர்கள் வன்முறை கலந்த, பல துன்பங்கள் நிறைந்த வேளாண்மையையும் மேற்கொள்கிறார்கள்।
Sārasvata (contextual continuation)
Scene: Two contrasting vignettes: a servant bowed before a master (dog-like dependence), and farmers ploughing while small creatures are harmed—overseen by a contemplative sage indicating the moral cost.
FAQs
Worldly wealth is earned through dependence and hardship; remembering this makes the sacrifice of giving (dāna) both difficult and spiritually significant.
No site is mentioned; the verse is moral instruction about livelihoods and suffering.
None; it provides social-ethical context for why parting with hard-earned wealth is challenging.