यो देवान्मन्यते नैव धर्मांश्च मनुसूचितान् । नैतौ स याति पंथानौ तत्त्वार्थोऽयं निरूपितः
yo devānmanyate naiva dharmāṃśca manusūcitān | naitau sa yāti paṃthānau tattvārtho'yaṃ nirūpitaḥ
தேவர்களை ஏற்காதவனும், மனு போதித்த தர்மங்களையும் ஒப்புக்கொள்ளாதவனும்—இந்த இரு பாதைகளிலும் எதிலும் செல்லான்; இதுவே உண்மைப் பொருள் தெளிவாக நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்டது।
Deductive: Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: Two luminous roads (light and smoke) stand guarded by personified Dharma; a figure who turns away from devas and dharma finds the roads fading, entering a barren, trackless wasteland—symbolizing ‘no path’.
Rejecting the devas and Manu-taught dharma disqualifies one from the recognized dharmic paths.
None is specified; the verse focuses on doctrinal adherence rather than sacred geography.
No direct prescription; it frames eligibility for the two dharmic paths previously stated.