Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11
अमाययैव भूतेभ्यो विक्रीणात्यस्य सद्व्रतम् । केचिद्यज्ञं प्रशंसंति नन्दभद्रो न मन्यते
amāyayaiva bhūtebhyo vikrīṇātyasya sadvratam | kecidyajñaṃ praśaṃsaṃti nandabhadro na manyate
ด้วยความซื่อตรงไร้เล่ห์ เขา ‘ซื้อ’ ใจสรรพสัตว์ด้วยเมตตา—นี่แลคือสัทวรตะอันแท้จริงของเขา. บางคนสรรเสริญยัญญพิธี แต่นันทภัทรไม่ถือว่านั่นเป็นยอดยิ่ง
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: Nandabhadra offers fair goods and kind words; people leave uplifted. In the background, a group debates ritual sacrifice, while he quietly embodies a ‘living vow’ through compassion.
FAQs
True dharma is guileless compassion toward beings; ritual praise is secondary if inner virtue is absent.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is on the inner ‘yajña’ of ethical conduct.
No explicit rite is prescribed; the verse elevates kindness and honesty as a ‘sad-vrata’ beyond mere ritual.