Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 121
उद्वेगं च परं यांति प्रतप्यंति यतस्ततः । आत्मसंभाविता मूढा मिथ्याज्ञानेन मोहिताः । वर्णाश्रमविरुद्धं तु तीर्थे कु्र्वन्ति येऽधमाः
udvegaṃ ca paraṃ yāṃti pratapyaṃti yatastataḥ | ātmasaṃbhāvitā mūḍhā mithyājñānena mohitāḥ | varṇāśramaviruddhaṃ tu tīrthe ku्rvanti ye'dhamāḥ
Sila’y nalulugmok sa matinding pagkabagabag at gumagala, tila sinusunog ng pagdurusa sa lahat ng dako—mga hangal na mapagmataas, nililinlang ng huwad na kaalaman. Yaong mga hamak, laban sa tungkulin ng varṇa at āśrama, ay gumagawa ng paglabag maging sa tīrtha.
Śiva (Īśvara)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī
Scene: Restless figures wander in heat-haze, faces anxious, arguing with smug certainty; a calm ascetic points toward the tīrtha, while the sacred precinct glows—contrasting true knowledge with false certainty and dharma-violation.
FAQs
Arrogance and counterfeit spirituality destroy peace and merit; dharma must be upheld especially in sacred spaces.
The admonition occurs within Prabhāsa Māhātmya, applying to behavior at Prabhāsa and tīrthas generally.
The prescription is behavioral: adhere to varṇāśrama-appropriate duties and avoid adharma at the tīrtha.