Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 115
ज्ञातं बलं ते विबुधैरचिंत्यं विनाशनं चात्मवतां ह्यवश्यम् । एवं स्थिते कुरु वाक्यं सुराणामेकैकमद्धि प्रतिवासरं त्वम्
jñātaṃ balaṃ te vibudhairaciṃtyaṃ vināśanaṃ cātmavatāṃ hyavaśyam | evaṃ sthite kuru vākyaṃ surāṇāmekaikamaddhi prativāsaraṃ tvam
அறிவுடையோர் உமது சிந்திக்கமுடியாத வல்லமையை அறிந்துள்ளனர்; வலிமையுடையோருக்கும் அழிவு நிச்சயம் நிகழலாம் என்பதையும் அறிந்துள்ளனர். ஆகவே இந்நிலையில் தேவர்களின் வேண்டுகோளை ஏற்று, நாள்தோறும் ஒருவரொருவராக அவர்களை உண்ணும்.
A Cāraṇa messenger (advising Viṣṇu/Janārdana)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis
Scene: Viṣṇu’s counsel turns pragmatic: acknowledging the addressed being’s immense power yet warning of inevitable downfall; he proposes a controlled, day-by-day consumption rather than sudden annihilation.
FAQs
Power must be exercised with restraint and foresight; measured action preserves dharma and prevents greater harm.
The setting is Prabhāsakṣetra, celebrated in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa as a spiritually potent region.
No ritual is given; a practical prescription is offered—staggering the act ‘day by day’ rather than all at once.