Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11
अमाययैव भूतेभ्यो विक्रीणात्यस्य सद्व्रतम् । केचिद्यज्ञं प्रशंसंति नन्दभद्रो न मन्यते
amāyayaiva bhūtebhyo vikrīṇātyasya sadvratam | kecidyajñaṃ praśaṃsaṃti nandabhadro na manyate
Dengan ketulusan tanpa tipu, ia ‘membeli’ hati makhluk melalui welas asih—itulah sadvrata, ikrar sucinya yang sejati. Ada yang memuji yajña, namun Nandabhadra tidak menganggapnya sebagai yang tertinggi.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: Nandabhadra offers fair goods and kind words; people leave uplifted. In the background, a group debates ritual sacrifice, while he quietly embodies a ‘living vow’ through compassion.
FAQs
True dharma is guileless compassion toward beings; ritual praise is secondary if inner virtue is absent.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is on the inner ‘yajña’ of ethical conduct.
No explicit rite is prescribed; the verse elevates kindness and honesty as a ‘sad-vrata’ beyond mere ritual.