Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 48
नास्तिका भिन्नमर्यादा ये निश्चयबहिष्कृताः । तेषां सिद्धिर्न विद्येत आस्तिक्याद्भवते ध्रुवम्
nāstikā bhinnamaryādā ye niścayabahiṣkṛtāḥ | teṣāṃ siddhirna vidyeta āstikyādbhavate dhruvam
Mereka yang nāstika, melanggar batas tata laku dan tersingkir dari keyakinan yang teguh—tiada pencapaian bagi mereka. Dari āstikya, yakni iman pada dharma, keberhasilan pasti muncul.
Śiva
Listener: Rājendra (the king addressed in this chapter)
Scene: A didactic moment: a sage instructs a king on the necessity of āstikya; pilgrims in the background prepare for river worship, contrasting disciplined devotees with boundary-breaking skeptics.
FAQs
Āstikya—trust in dharma and sacred order—is presented as the necessary condition for spiritual success.
The Revā/Narmadā tīrtha-mahātmya is upheld by explaining that faith determines receptivity to tīrtha-grace.
No external rite; the verse prescribes an inner discipline: firm conviction and dharmic conduct.