Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 132
वेदाः प्रमाणं स्मृतयः प्रमाणं धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनं प्रमाणम् । नैतत्त्रयं यस्य भवेत्प्रमाणं कस्तस्य कुर्याद्वचनं प्रमाणम्
vedāḥ pramāṇaṃ smṛtayaḥ pramāṇaṃ dharmārthayuktaṃ vacanaṃ pramāṇam | naitattrayaṃ yasya bhavetpramāṇaṃ kastasya kuryādvacanaṃ pramāṇam
Die Veden sind Autorität; die Smṛtis sind Autorität; und auch das Wort, das mit Dharma und rechtem Zweck übereinstimmt, ist Autorität. Doch wem diese drei nicht Autorität sind—wer würde dessen Rede je als Autorität gelten lassen?
Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa) in Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context (deduced)
Scene: A triad of luminous texts/symbols: Veda (śruti) as a radiant manuscript, Smṛti as a codex, and a balanced scale labeled dharma-artha-yukta-vacana; a skeptical figure stands aside, his speech depicted as fading smoke.
FAQs
True guidance is measured by śāstra—Veda, Smṛti, and dharma-grounded counsel; ignoring them makes one’s speech unreliable.
No tirtha is named in this verse; it sets the doctrinal standard that frames the later praise of Bahūdaka-kuṇḍa and Kapileśvara.
None directly; the verse establishes scriptural authority as the basis for right conduct.