Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 136
यज्ञैरासाद्यते धूमो नैष्कर्म्येणार्चिराप्यते । एतयोरपरो मार्गः पाखंड इति कीर्त्यते
yajñairāsādyate dhūmo naiṣkarmyeṇārcirāpyate | etayoraparo mārgaḥ pākhaṃḍa iti kīrtyate
ด้วยยัญพิธีทั้งหลายย่อมไปถึงได้เพียง “ควัน”; ด้วยไนษฺกรรมยะ (วัตรปฏิบัติไร้ความยึดติดในกรรม) จึงบรรลุ “เปลวไฟแห่งแสง” หนทางอื่นนอกเหนือสองประการนี้ ถูกประกาศว่าเป็น ‘ปาขัณฑะ’ คือทางผิดเพี้ยน
Deductive: Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: A sacrificial altar emits smoke that curls back toward earth; beside it, a meditating ascetic radiates a flame-like aura rising upward. In the background, shadowy figures represent ‘deviant’ paths dissolving into confusion.
FAQs
It distinguishes sanctioned paths—ritual duty and detached discipline—from deviant doctrines labeled pākhaṇḍa.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it is primarily a doctrinal clarification within the Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa.
Yajña (sacrificial rites) is referenced as a recognized path, contrasted with naiṣkarmya (detached discipline).