Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
यज्ञादिकाश्च ये धर्मा विना यस्यार्चनं वृथा । दक्षोऽत्र सत्यदृष्टांतः कस्तस्मात्परमो भवेत्
yajñādikāśca ye dharmā vinā yasyārcanaṃ vṛthā | dakṣo'tra satyadṛṣṭāṃtaḥ kastasmātparamo bhavet
यज्ञादि सर्व धर्मकर्म ज्यांच्या अर्चनेविना निष्फळ ठरतात; येथे दक्ष हा खरा दृष्टांत—त्याहून श्रेष्ठ कोण असेल?
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A sacrificial hall where offerings blaze, yet the atmosphere turns ominous as Śiva is excluded; Dakṣa stands proud, while the unseen consequence of neglect looms (Vīrabhadra motif in background).
FAQs
Ritual without reverence becomes empty; true dharma requires honoring the Supreme (Śiva) with devotion.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse references the Dakṣa-yajña narrative as a moral exemplar.
Implicit instruction: include Śiva-arcana (worship) as essential to yajña and other dharmic rites.