Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 87
यस्मिञ्छास्त्रे त्वमी देवा मानिता नैव पापिभिः । तच्छास्त्रं हि न मंतव्यं यदि ब्रह्मा स्वयं वदेत्
yasmiñchāstre tvamī devā mānitā naiva pāpibhiḥ | tacchāstraṃ hi na maṃtavyaṃ yadi brahmā svayaṃ vadet
Any teaching in which these gods are not honored, and which is upheld by the sinful, should not be accepted as śāstra—even if Brahmā himself were to proclaim it.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A stern teacher raises a hand in prohibition; behind him, a scroll labeled ‘false śāstra’ fades, while a radiant shrine and honored deities remain luminous—symbolizing discernment and protection of sacred tradition.
FAQs
A valid spiritual path must uphold reverence for the devas and dharmic conduct; teachings that deny this are to be rejected.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is doctrinal, contrasting dharmic śāstra with deviant teachings.
Reverence (māna) toward the devas is treated as a criterion of dharmic teaching.