Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21
तत्किं ते तपसः शक्त्या ब्राह्मणस्य विचक्षण । अपरं शृणु मे वाक्यं यद्ब्रवीमि परिस्फुटम् । शृण्वतां मुनिवृन्दानां तथान्येषां द्विजोत्तम
tatkiṃ te tapasaḥ śaktyā brāhmaṇasya vicakṣaṇa | aparaṃ śṛṇu me vākyaṃ yadbravīmi parisphuṭam | śṛṇvatāṃ munivṛndānāṃ tathānyeṣāṃ dvijottama
اے دانا برہمن، پھر تمہاری تپسیا کی طاقت کا فائدہ ہی کیا؟ اب میری ایک اور بات سنو جو میں بالکل صاف کہتا ہوں—جبکہ رِشیوں کے گروہ اور دوسرے لوگ سن رہے ہیں، اے بہترین دِوِج۔
Triśaṅku (continued address to Vasiṣṭha)
Listener: Vasiṣṭha (and implicitly the assembled sages)
Scene: Triśaṅku speaks loudly, turning slightly toward the gathered sages as if to shame Vasiṣṭha; Vasiṣṭha remains composed; sages react with mixed concern and silence.
FAQs
Spiritual power is questioned when it is not aligned with right action; public dharma-debate is framed as taking place before a community of sages.
No tīrtha is named in this verse.
No direct prescription; the verse challenges the efficacy of tapas and introduces a further demand/argument.