Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 79
किं कर्म्म किमकर्म्मेति तन्न पश्यसि दुर्म्मते । समर्थं केवलं कर्मन भविष्यति सर्वदा
kiṃ karmma kimakarmmeti tanna paśyasi durmmate | samarthaṃ kevalaṃ karmana bhaviṣyati sarvadā
Wahai yang tersesat budinya, engkau tidak membedakan mana karma (tindakan benar) dan mana akarma (tanpa-tindakan). Karma semata, berdiri sendiri, tidak pernah sungguh mampu mengantarkan pada tujuan kapan pun.
Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A stern guru-like speaker in a Himalayan hermitage admonishes a ritual-proud pilgrim, pointing toward a distant Kedāra peak and liṅga, teaching that mere action cannot secure the goal.
FAQs
Ritual action must be guided by dharmic discernment; mere performance without right understanding cannot ensure success.
No specific tīrtha is referenced; the teaching appears within the Kedārakhaṇḍa setting.
An ethical prescription: distinguish karma from akarma before undertaking rites.