Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 7
अधमेन कृतं सम्यङ्न भवेदिति मे मतिः । उत्तमश्चाधमार्थे वै कुर्वन्दुर्गतिमाप्नुयात्
adhamena kṛtaṃ samyaṅna bhavediti me matiḥ | uttamaścādhamārthe vai kurvandurgatimāpnuyāt
Menurut pandanganku, apa yang dilakukan oleh orang yang tidak layak tidak menjadi sempurna sebagaimana mestinya. Dan bahkan orang yang ‘utama’, bila bertindak demi tujuan yang hina, sungguh dapat jatuh ke dalam kemalangan.
Uncertain from snippet (teacher/narrator addressing Yudhiṣṭhira)
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira
Scene: A cautionary teaching: the sage points to two contrasting figures—one unfit attempting a rite with disorder, another high-status figure turning toward a dark path symbolizing ignoble intent; the riverbank remains serene, heightening the moral contrast.
FAQs
Right action requires both fitness (adhikāra) and right intention; otherwise the act misfires and can lead to harm.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a general dharma maxim within the Revā Khaṇḍa narrative.
It cautions that rites done by the unqualified are not ‘properly done,’ and that base motives corrupt even a capable performer.