Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 17
ऋषभ उवाच । श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेषु प्रोक्तो धर्मः सनातनः । वर्णाश्रमानुरूपेण निषेव्यः सर्वदा जनैः
ṛṣabha uvāca | śrutismṛtipurāṇeṣu prokto dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | varṇāśramānurūpeṇa niṣevyaḥ sarvadā janaiḥ
ਸ਼ਭ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “ਸ਼੍ਰੁਤੀ, ਸਮ੍ਰਿਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਪੁਰਾਣਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਨਾਤਨ ਧਰਮ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਆਪਣੇ ਵਰਣ ਅਤੇ ਆਸ਼੍ਰਮ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਆਚਰਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।”
Ṛṣabha (Śivayogin)
Scene: Ṛṣabha speaks in a teaching posture, perhaps seated among listeners; the scene conveys scriptural authority—palm-leaf manuscripts, attentive disciples, and a calm didactic atmosphere.
FAQs
Dharma is timeless and scripturally grounded; it is to be lived consistently in ways suited to one’s duties and stage of life.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse is doctrinal, establishing the authority and universality of dharma.
No single ritual; it prescribes continual practice of dharma according to varṇāśrama responsibilities.