Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 28
शास्त्रचौरः केकराक्षः कथां पुण्यां च द्वेष्टि यः । कृमिवक्त्रः स च भवेद्विभ्रष्टो नरकात्कुधीः
śāstracauraḥ kekarākṣaḥ kathāṃ puṇyāṃ ca dveṣṭi yaḥ | kṛmivaktraḥ sa ca bhavedvibhraṣṭo narakātkudhīḥ
سارقُ الشاسترا يُبتلى بالحَوَل. ومن يبغضُ الحديثَ المقدّسَ ذي الثواب يُولدُ بفمٍ تأكله الديدان. ذلك الخبيثُ العقل، وإن خرج من الجحيم، يبرزُ مثقلاً بهذه العِلّة.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)
Scene: A solemn assembly where a narrator recites sacred kathā; beside it, symbolic karmic consequences: a manuscript-thief with crossed eyes and a man with a worm-ridden mouth turning away from the discourse; Yama’s shadowy realm hinted in the background.
FAQs
Respect for sacred knowledge and holy discourse is dharma; stealing or despising it leads to severe karmic affliction.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse glorifies śāstra and puṇya-kathā as sacred supports of dharma.
Implicitly, hearing/reciting holy discourse (kathā-śravaṇa) is praised, though no formal rite is detailed.