Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 137
यो देवान्मन्यते नैव धर्मांश्च मनुसूचितान् । नैतौ स याति पंथानौ तत्त्वार्थोऽयं निरूपितः
yo devānmanyate naiva dharmāṃśca manusūcitān | naitau sa yāti paṃthānau tattvārtho'yaṃ nirūpitaḥ
Wer die Götter nicht anerkennt und auch die von Manu gelehrten Dharmas nicht annimmt, der schreitet auf keinem dieser beiden Wege voran. Dies ist die Wahrheit der Sache, klar festgestellt.
Deductive: Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: Two luminous roads (light and smoke) stand guarded by personified Dharma; a figure who turns away from devas and dharma finds the roads fading, entering a barren, trackless wasteland—symbolizing ‘no path’.
FAQs
Rejecting the devas and Manu-taught dharma disqualifies one from the recognized dharmic paths.
None is specified; the verse focuses on doctrinal adherence rather than sacred geography.
No direct prescription; it frames eligibility for the two dharmic paths previously stated.