Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 4
वेदोदितानि कर्माणि ईश्वरेण विना कथम् । सफलानि भविष्यंति विफलान्येव तानि च
vedoditāni karmāṇi īśvareṇa vinā katham | saphalāni bhaviṣyaṃti viphalānyeva tāni ca
वेदोदितानि कर्माणि ईश्वरं विना कथं फलवन्ति? ईश्वराभावे तानि कर्माणि निष्फलान्येव भवन्ति।
Mahāviṣṇu (continuing reply)
Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedārakṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Viṣṇu delivers a decisive doctrinal point: Veda-enjoined actions without the Lord are fruitless; Dakṣa’s ritual certainty is shaken into humility.
FAQs
Ritual and duty gain true efficacy when connected to the Lord; Īśvara is presented as the ultimate ground of karmic fruit.
Kedāra Khaṇḍa context (Kedārakṣetra), though the verse is a universal principle rather than a site-panegyric.
Veda-enjoined karmas are referenced generally; the prescription implied is performing them with Īśvara-bhāva (God-oriented intent).