Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 57
यस्मात्पापेन दुःखानि तीव्राणि सुबहून्यपि । तस्मात्पापं न कर्तव्यमात्मपीडाकरं हि तत्
yasmātpāpena duḥkhāni tīvrāṇi subahūnyapi | tasmātpāpaṃ na kartavyamātmapīḍākaraṃ hi tat
เพราะบาปย่อมนำทุกข์อันรุนแรงและมากมายมาให้ ฉะนั้นไม่พึงกระทำบาปเลย เพราะแท้จริงแล้วบาปนั้นเป็นการทรมานตนเอง
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A stark moral scene: a person about to commit a harmful act sees a shadowy reflection of their own suffering; the sage points to the heart, indicating ‘self-torment’. Background shows Yama’s noose faintly as a cautionary symbol.
FAQs
Avoid pāpa because it inevitably returns as suffering; true self-interest lies in dharma and merit.
No tīrtha is mentioned; it is a universal ethical teaching.
No specific ritual is prescribed; the instruction is moral restraint—do not commit sinful acts.