Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17
भाविनोर्था भवंत्येव नरस्यानिच्छतोपि हि । तस्मान्न तपसा तेऽस्ति बाले किंचित्प्रयोजनम्
bhāvinorthā bhavaṃtyeva narasyānicchatopi hi | tasmānna tapasā te'sti bāle kiṃcitprayojanam
భవితవ్యమైనది మనిషి కోరకపోయినా జరుగుతూనే ఉంటుంది. కాబట్టి, ఓ బాలికా! నీకు తపస్సు వల్ల ఏ ప్రయోజనమూ లేదు।
Parents
Scene: An elder speaks with measured firmness, asserting that destined events occur even against one’s wishes and discouraging the child from austerity; the maiden listens, tension building toward rebuttal.
FAQs
It presents a destiny-forward view: some outcomes arrive regardless of personal preference, so harsh effort may be questioned.
None; the verse is philosophical counsel within a family dialogue.
It discourages tapas for the girl in this context; no positive rite is prescribed.