Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 24
वर्द्धन्युवाच । मा भयं कुरु देवेश यमस्यार्कसुतस्य च । अयं स्वार्थपरो धर्म यशसे च समाचरेत्
varddhanyuvāca | mā bhayaṃ kuru deveśa yamasyārkasutasya ca | ayaṃ svārthaparo dharma yaśase ca samācaret
Varddhanī berkata: “Janganlah takut, wahai Penguasa para dewa—bukan kepada Yama, putera Surya, dan bukan pula kepada apa pun yang lain. Dharma ini diamalkan demi tujuan yang benar bagi diri, dan hendaklah juga dipraktikkan demi nama baik.”
Varddhanī
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇyaka
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devēśa (addressed as ‘Lord of the gods’; contextually Śakra/Indra)
Scene: Varddhanī addresses a divine figure with calm assurance, dismissing fear of Yama; a forest-āśrama ambience with subtle celestial presence.
FAQs
When dharma is rightly practiced, fear of punitive forces diminishes; ethical conduct supports both inner good and honorable reputation.
Not a direct site-glorification verse; it supports the Dharmāraṇya narrative by framing dharma as protective.
No specific rite; it is an exhortation to practice dharma steadily and without fear.