Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 27
धर्मं सहायिनं लब्ध्वा संतरेद्दुस्तरं तमः । संबंधानाचारेन्नित्यमुत्तमैरुत्तमैः सुधीः
dharmaṃ sahāyinaṃ labdhvā saṃtareddustaraṃ tamaḥ | saṃbaṃdhānācārennityamuttamairuttamaiḥ sudhīḥ
ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಸಹಾಯಕನಾಗಿ ಪಡೆದು ಮನುಷ್ಯನು ದಾಟಲು ಕಷ್ಟವಾದ ಅಂಧಕಾರವನ್ನು ದಾಟುತ್ತಾನೆ. ವಿವೇಕಿಯು ಸದಾ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸತ್ಸಂಗ ಮಾಡಿ ಸದಾಚಾರವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು.
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice; traditionally framed within Sūta’s discourse in Purāṇic setting)
Scene: A wise person boards a symbolic boat named 'Dharma' to cross a dark river of Tamas; on the far bank stand noble elders inviting with lamps; the unwise linger in shadowy company.
FAQs
Dharma and noble company (satsaṅga) enable one to cross the darkness of ignorance and moral decline.
No particular tīrtha is specified; the verse emphasizes the ‘inner tīrtha’ of pure association and conduct.
No fixed ritual is listed; the practice prescribed is continual sadācāra and association with the virtuous.