Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 20
गायत्रीसारमात्रोऽपि वरं विप्रः सुयन्त्रितः । नायन्त्रितश्चतुर्वेदी सर्वाशी सर्वविक्रयी
gāyatrīsāramātro'pi varaṃ vipraḥ suyantritaḥ | nāyantritaścaturvedī sarvāśī sarvavikrayī
Lebih utama seorang brāhmaṇa yang berdisiplin, walau hanya mengetahui inti sari Gāyatrī, daripada seorang caturvedin yang tidak terkawal—yang makan apa sahaja dan menjual apa sahaja.
Skanda (deduced)
Scene: Contrast tableau: on one side, a calm, restrained brāhmaṇa doing simple japa with a small manuscript; on the other, a lavishly dressed scholar surrounded by scrolls, eating indiscriminately and trading goods—showing moral inversion.
FAQs
Inner restraint and integrity outweigh mere scriptural erudition; dharma is proved by conduct.
No specific tirtha is named; the verse is ethical instruction within the Revā Khaṇḍa teaching sequence.
Implicitly: cultivate disciplined practice centered on Gāyatrī rather than relying on status or broad learning without self-control.