Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72
हीनवर्णात्मवृत्तिश्च वैद्यो धर्मध्वजी च यः । यश्च शास्त्रमतिक्रम्य स्वेच्छयैवाहरेत्करम्
hīnavarṇātmavṛttiśca vaidyo dharmadhvajī ca yaḥ | yaśca śāstramatikramya svecchayaivāharetkaram
مَن يعتاش بمهنةٍ منسوبةٍ إلى طبقةٍ أدنى؛ والطبيب الذي يعمل بلا قيدٍ من الدهرما؛ والمنافق الذي يرفع الدين رايةً؛ ومن يتجاوز الشاسترا فيجمع الضرائب بهواه—هؤلاء جميعًا مُستنكرون هنا بوصفهم منتهكي معايير الاستقامة.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention
Scene: A hypocritical ascetic-like figure with religious banner taking bribes; a physician ignoring dharma; a tax-collector seizing goods without warrant; a śāstra manuscript shown as the violated standard.
FAQs
Outward displays of piety without righteousness are condemned, and rulers must act within śāstric limits—especially in taxation.
No tīrtha is mentioned; this is an ethical/governance teaching.
None; the verse addresses śāstra-guided conduct and just taxation rather than ritual practice.