Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66
उपदेशं पठस्येव नैवार्थज्ञोऽसि तत्त्वतः । पाठमात्रा हि ये विप्रा द्विपदाः पशवो हि ते
upadeśaṃ paṭhasyeva naivārthajño'si tattvataḥ | pāṭhamātrā hi ye viprā dvipadāḥ paśavo hi te
ท่านเพียงสาธยายคำสอนดุจท่องบท แต่แท้จริงมิได้รู้ความหมายโดยตถะ ผู้เป็นพราหมณ์ที่มีเพียงการท่องจำ ก็แท้จริงเป็นดุจสัตว์สองเท้า
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention)
Listener: pitā (father)
Scene: The son points to a manuscript while looking directly at the father; in the background, shadowy figures of ‘two-footed beasts’ symbolize empty scholarship; the foreground remains dignified, emphasizing reform not ridicule.
FAQs
Scripture should be understood and realized, not merely recited; rote learning without meaning is spiritually barren.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it is a general dharma-teaching within the Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa context.
No external ritual is prescribed; the emphasis is on inner comprehension (artha-jñāna) rather than mere pāṭha.