Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 117
किं त्वेतत्सफलं राजन्नाचारयो न लंघयेत् । आचारात्फलते धर्मो ह्याचारात्स्वर्गमश्नुते
kiṃ tvetatsaphalaṃ rājannācārayo na laṃghayet | ācārātphalate dharmo hyācārātsvargamaśnute
किं त्वेतत्सफलं राजन्नाचारं न व्यतिक्रमेत् । आचारात्फलते धर्मो ह्याचारात्स्वर्गमश्नुते ॥
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced; addressing 'rājan' indicates a royal listener in this discourse)
Listener: King (rājan)
Scene: A teacher addresses a king, gesturing toward a path labeled ‘ācāra’ leading upward to svarga; below, ritual implements appear secondary, indicating that conduct is the true support of dharma’s fruit.
FAQs
Ritual and devotion yield results only when rooted in ethical discipline; conduct is presented as the engine of dharma’s fruit.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse is a general dharma teaching on ācāra.
A prohibition: do not violate ācāra (normative right conduct) if one seeks the fruits of worship.