Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42
न वेदैश्च न दानैश्च न यज्ञैस्तपसा क्वचित् । न शक्नुवंति मां प्राप्तुं मूढाः कर्म्मवशानराः
na vedaiśca na dānaiśca na yajñaistapasā kvacit | na śaknuvaṃti māṃ prāptuṃ mūḍhāḥ karmmavaśānarāḥ
न वेदांनी, न दानांनी, न यज्ञांनी, न तपाने—कधीही—केवळ कर्माच्या वशात असलेले मूढ जन मला प्राप्त करू शकत नाहीत।
Śiva (Hara/Rudra)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ritual-bound ‘mūḍhāḥ’ (contextually Dakṣa and ritualist assembly)
Scene: Śiva’s voice (or a sage channeling Śiva) declares that Vedas, gifts, sacrifices, and austerities cannot reach Him for those deluded and bound to action. The scene contrasts bustling ritual activity with a still center of divine presence.
FAQs
Scripture, charity, sacrifice, and austerity become spiritually fruitful only when guided by wisdom; mechanical ritualism cannot yield the highest attainment.
In Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Kedāra setting, the message redirects pilgrims from mere external merit to the inner knowledge that makes the kṣetra’s blessing complete.
Veda-study, dāna, yajña, and tapas are referenced, but the verse warns they are insufficient when pursued as ends in themselves.