Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20
उभयभ्रष्ट एवासौ भिन्ना भूमिर्विनश्यति । संन्यासस्य तु यत्सारं तत्तेनावृतमुत्तमम्
ubhayabhraṣṭa evāsau bhinnā bhūmirvinaśyati | saṃnyāsasya tu yatsāraṃ tattenāvṛtamuttamam
وہ دونوں راستوں سے گرا ہوا ہے؛ پھٹی ہوئی زمین کی مانند تباہی کو پہنچتا ہے۔ سنیاس کا جو حقیقی جوہر ہے، وہ اعلیٰ ترین حقیقت اس پر پردہ میں رہتی ہے۔
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: A cracked, split earth motif beneath a wavering ascetic figure—symbolizing instability; above, a veiled luminous ‘essence of renunciation’ (a covered lamp) that he cannot access.
FAQs
External renunciation without inner freedom leads to ruin; the highest meaning of saṃnyāsa remains hidden from the impure-minded.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a doctrinal warning about false renunciation.
No ritual is given; the prescription is to align inner intention with the chosen path so one is not ‘ubhaya-bhraṣṭa’.