Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 79
किं कर्म्म किमकर्म्मेति तन्न पश्यसि दुर्म्मते । समर्थं केवलं कर्मन भविष्यति सर्वदा
kiṃ karmma kimakarmmeti tanna paśyasi durmmate | samarthaṃ kevalaṃ karmana bhaviṣyati sarvadā
يا صاحب الضلال، لا تُميّز ما هو الفعل القويم وما هو اللا فعل. إن الفعل وحده، بذاته، لن يكون قطّ كافيًا حقًّا في أي زمان لبلوغ الغاية.
Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A stern guru-like speaker in a Himalayan hermitage admonishes a ritual-proud pilgrim, pointing toward a distant Kedāra peak and liṅga, teaching that mere action cannot secure the goal.
FAQs
Ritual action must be guided by dharmic discernment; mere performance without right understanding cannot ensure success.
No specific tīrtha is referenced; the teaching appears within the Kedārakhaṇḍa setting.
An ethical prescription: distinguish karma from akarma before undertaking rites.