Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 16
स्वल्पायुषः सदा मर्त्या ब्रह्मन्कृतयुगे पुरा । त्रेतायां द्वापरे चैव किमु प्राप्ते कलौ युगे
svalpāyuṣaḥ sadā martyā brahmankṛtayuge purā | tretāyāṃ dvāpare caiva kimu prāpte kalau yuge
“ข้าแต่พราหมณ์ มนุษย์ผู้เป็นมรรตยะย่อมมีอายุสั้นอยู่เสมอ—แม้ในกฤตยุคโบราณ ทั้งในเตรตาและทวาปร; แล้วเมื่อกาลียุคมาถึง จะยิ่งเพียงใดเล่า!”
Aśvasena (continuing)
Listener: Bhartṛyajña
Scene: A contemplative tableau: the king reflects on the passing of ages—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, Kali—shown as four panels or symbolic shifts in light; the final panel (Kali) appears dimmer, prompting urgency.
FAQs
Because life is uncertain and brief, one should adopt dharma that is doable now, not postponed.
None named here; the emphasis is on time (yuga) and human limitation.
An implicit preference for concise observances suitable for limited lifespan, especially in Kali-yuga.