Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34
यः शिष्यो गुरुवाक्यं तु न करोति यथोदितम् । तस्य व्रतं च तद्व्यर्थं नरकं च ततः परम्
yaḥ śiṣyo guruvākyaṃ tu na karoti yathoditam | tasya vrataṃ ca tadvyarthaṃ narakaṃ ca tataḥ param
Le disciple qui n’accomplit pas la parole du guru telle qu’elle a été dite, voit son vœu devenir vain, puis il tombe en enfer.
Narrator/teacher voice (general rule stated as dharma-vidhi)
Scene: A stern guru instructs; the negligent disciple stands with lowered head as the imagery of a dark naraka looms in the background, contrasting with the bright path of vrata when guided by obedience.
FAQs
Vows and practices gain validity through disciplined obedience to rightful instruction; rejecting the guru’s word destroys the spiritual fruit.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as a universal dharma principle within a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter.
The prescription is ethical-disciplinary: follow the guru’s instructions exactly; otherwise one’s vrata is declared ineffective and spiritually dangerous.