Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 28
शास्त्रचौरः केकराक्षः कथां पुण्यां च द्वेष्टि यः । कृमिवक्त्रः स च भवेद्विभ्रष्टो नरकात्कुधीः
śāstracauraḥ kekarākṣaḥ kathāṃ puṇyāṃ ca dveṣṭi yaḥ | kṛmivaktraḥ sa ca bhavedvibhraṣṭo narakātkudhīḥ
शास्त्रचौरः केकराक्षो भवति; यः पुण्यां धर्मकथां द्वेष्टि स कृमिवक्त्रः स्यात्। नरकात् विभ्रष्टः स कुधीः पापात्मा तथा विकृतिं प्राप्नोति॥
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context)
Scene: A solemn assembly where a narrator recites sacred kathā; beside it, symbolic karmic consequences: a manuscript-thief with crossed eyes and a man with a worm-ridden mouth turning away from the discourse; Yama’s shadowy realm hinted in the background.
FAQs
Respect for sacred knowledge and holy discourse is dharma; stealing or despising it leads to severe karmic affliction.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse glorifies śāstra and puṇya-kathā as sacred supports of dharma.
Implicitly, hearing/reciting holy discourse (kathā-śravaṇa) is praised, though no formal rite is detailed.