Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16
कथं यज्ञाश्च वेदाश्च वर्तते विश्वधारकाः । तस्मात्त्वया पुण्यमाप्तं न च पापं कथंचन
kathaṃ yajñāśca vedāśca vartate viśvadhārakāḥ | tasmāttvayā puṇyamāptaṃ na ca pāpaṃ kathaṃcana
Bagaimanakah korban suci dan Veda—penyangga alam—dapat terus berfungsi (jika orang jahat tidak dibendung)? Maka engkau memperoleh pahala, dan sama sekali tidak menanggung dosa.
Vāsudeva
Listener: Guha (Skanda/Kumāra)
Scene: A cosmic scene: Vedas personified as luminous beings and yajña-fire as a pillar holding the world; a protector restrains a dark figure of adharma; the fire brightens, and sages resume recitation—signifying merit gained without sin.
FAQs
Upholding dharma protects yajña and Vedic stability; rightful enforcement done for protection yields puṇya, not pāpa.
No location is praised; the verse praises preservation of the Vedic-sacrificial order.
It references yajña and Veda generally, but gives no specific ritual instruction.