Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 100
अनृतेन क्षरेद्यज्ञस्तपो विस्मयतः क्षरेत् । क्षरेत्कीर्तिर्विनादानमायुर्विप्रापमानतः
anṛtena kṣaredyajñastapo vismayataḥ kṣaret | kṣaretkīrtirvinādānamāyurviprāpamānataḥ
असत्याने यज्ञ क्षीण होतो; दंभाने तप क्षीण होते. दानाविना कीर्ती क्षीण होते; आणि ब्राह्मणांचा अपमान केल्याने आयुष्य क्षीण होते.
Skanda (deduced)
Scene: Four symbolic ‘vessels’ labeled yajña, tapas, kīrti, āyus appear as pots leaking due to four causes: a serpent of falsehood, a peacock of vanity, an empty hand of non-charity, and a figure insulting a brāhmaṇa; a sage points instructively.
FAQs
Ritual merit depends on character: truth, humility, generosity, and reverence for the wise preserve spiritual gains.
No tīrtha is specified; it teaches universal dharma that safeguards merit even at the holiest places.
Maintain truthfulness, avoid pride in tapas, practice dāna, and do not insult brāhmaṇas.