Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
पातकानां कुले नष्टे नरकाः शून्यतां गताः । नरके शून्यतां याते मम राज्यं हि निष्फलम्
pātakānāṃ kule naṣṭe narakāḥ śūnyatāṃ gatāḥ | narake śūnyatāṃ yāte mama rājyaṃ hi niṣphalam
పాతకాల కులం నశించినప్పుడు నరకాలు శూన్యమయ్యాయి; నరకాలు శూన్యమైతే నా రాజ్యం నిజంగా నిష్ఫలమవుతుంది।
Yama (to Brahmā)
Scene: A vast, usually fiery naraka landscape shown eerily empty—extinguished flames, silent gates—while Yama stands contemplative, his regalia intact but his realm inactive; the paradox of ‘fruitless kingdom’ is central.
FAQs
Purification through Rudra-centered practice is depicted as so effective that it disrupts the usual cycle of punishment and retribution.
No tīrtha is named; the verse is cosmological, describing Naraka and Yama’s domain.
No direct prescription; the verse continues the consequence of widespread Rudra-oriented purification.