Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21
बहुतेजोन्वितान्स्वर्गे ह्यल्पपुण्यो द्विजोत्तम । पश्चात्तापजदुःखेन स्वर्गस्थो दुःखितः सदा
bahutejonvitānsvarge hyalpapuṇyo dvijottama | paścāttāpajaduḥkhena svargastho duḥkhitaḥ sadā
اے بہترین دْوِج! سُورگ میں عظیم جلال والوں کو دیکھ کر، کم پُنّیہ والا انسان—سُورگ میں ہوتے ہوئے بھی—پچھتاوے سے پیدا ہونے والے غم کے سبب ہمیشہ رنجیدہ رہتا ہے۔
A heavenly messenger (dūta) addressing Mudgala (contextual deduction from v.25)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dvija interlocutor
Scene: In svarga, a modestly radiant soul sits apart, watching brilliantly luminous beings in grand vimānas; the observer’s face shows quiet anguish and regret, despite the heavenly setting.
FAQs
Even higher worlds cannot remove inner lack; insufficient merit leads to envy and remorse, so seek lasting spiritual aims beyond comparison.
No specific site is mentioned; the verse continues a philosophical critique of Svarga.
None explicitly; the implied counsel is to cultivate greater dharma/puṇya and higher aspiration than mere heavenly status.