Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16
कथं यज्ञाश्च वेदाश्च वर्तते विश्वधारकाः । तस्मात्त्वया पुण्यमाप्तं न च पापं कथंचन
kathaṃ yajñāśca vedāśca vartate viśvadhārakāḥ | tasmāttvayā puṇyamāptaṃ na ca pāpaṃ kathaṃcana
もし悪しき者が抑えられなければ、世界を支える祭祀とヴェーダは、いかにして成り立ち続けようか。ゆえに汝は功徳を得て、いささかも罪を負わない。
Vāsudeva
Listener: Guha (Skanda/Kumāra)
Scene: A cosmic scene: Vedas personified as luminous beings and yajña-fire as a pillar holding the world; a protector restrains a dark figure of adharma; the fire brightens, and sages resume recitation—signifying merit gained without sin.
FAQs
Upholding dharma protects yajña and Vedic stability; rightful enforcement done for protection yields puṇya, not pāpa.
No location is praised; the verse praises preservation of the Vedic-sacrificial order.
It references yajña and Veda generally, but gives no specific ritual instruction.