Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 87
यस्मिञ्छास्त्रे त्वमी देवा मानिता नैव पापिभिः । तच्छास्त्रं हि न मंतव्यं यदि ब्रह्मा स्वयं वदेत्
yasmiñchāstre tvamī devā mānitā naiva pāpibhiḥ | tacchāstraṃ hi na maṃtavyaṃ yadi brahmā svayaṃ vadet
ఏ శాస్త్రంలో ఈ దేవతలకు గౌరవం ఉండదో, పాపులు దానిని ఆమోదించుదురో, ఆ శాస్త్రాన్ని శాస్త్రమని భావించకూడదు—స్వయంగా బ్రహ్మ చెప్పినప్పటికీ.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A stern teacher raises a hand in prohibition; behind him, a scroll labeled ‘false śāstra’ fades, while a radiant shrine and honored deities remain luminous—symbolizing discernment and protection of sacred tradition.
FAQs
A valid spiritual path must uphold reverence for the devas and dharmic conduct; teachings that deny this are to be rejected.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is doctrinal, contrasting dharmic śāstra with deviant teachings.
Reverence (māna) toward the devas is treated as a criterion of dharmic teaching.