Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66
उपदेशं पठस्येव नैवार्थज्ञोऽसि तत्त्वतः । पाठमात्रा हि ये विप्रा द्विपदाः पशवो हि ते
upadeśaṃ paṭhasyeva naivārthajño'si tattvataḥ | pāṭhamātrā hi ye viprā dvipadāḥ paśavo hi te
إنما تتلو الوصية تلاوةً، ولكنك في الحقيقة لا تعرف معناها على وجهه. فإن البراهمة الذين لا يملكون إلا الحفظ والقراءة هم حقًّا بهائم على قدمين.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention)
Listener: pitā (father)
Scene: The son points to a manuscript while looking directly at the father; in the background, shadowy figures of ‘two-footed beasts’ symbolize empty scholarship; the foreground remains dignified, emphasizing reform not ridicule.
FAQs
Scripture should be understood and realized, not merely recited; rote learning without meaning is spiritually barren.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it is a general dharma-teaching within the Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa context.
No external ritual is prescribed; the emphasis is on inner comprehension (artha-jñāna) rather than mere pāṭha.