Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
यज्ञादिकाश्च ये धर्मा विना यस्यार्चनं वृथा । दक्षोऽत्र सत्यदृष्टांतः कस्तस्मात्परमो भवेत्
yajñādikāśca ye dharmā vinā yasyārcanaṃ vṛthā | dakṣo'tra satyadṛṣṭāṃtaḥ kastasmātparamo bhavet
كلُّ أعمالِ الدِّين، وعلى رأسِها اليَجْنَة (القُربان)، تصيرُ عبثًا إن لم تُقَمْ عبادتُه. ودَكْشَةُ هو المثالُ الصادقُ على ذلك. فمَن أعظمُ منه؟
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A sacrificial hall where offerings blaze, yet the atmosphere turns ominous as Śiva is excluded; Dakṣa stands proud, while the unseen consequence of neglect looms (Vīrabhadra motif in background).
FAQs
Ritual without reverence becomes empty; true dharma requires honoring the Supreme (Śiva) with devotion.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse references the Dakṣa-yajña narrative as a moral exemplar.
Implicit instruction: include Śiva-arcana (worship) as essential to yajña and other dharmic rites.