Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 27
धर्मं सहायिनं लब्ध्वा संतरेद्दुस्तरं तमः । संबंधानाचारेन्नित्यमुत्तमैरुत्तमैः सुधीः
dharmaṃ sahāyinaṃ labdhvā saṃtareddustaraṃ tamaḥ | saṃbaṃdhānācārennityamuttamairuttamaiḥ sudhīḥ
جب دھرم کو رفیق بنا لیا جائے تو آدمی اس دشوار تاریکی سے پار اتر جاتا ہے۔ دانا کو چاہیے کہ ہمیشہ شریفوں میں سے بہترین لوگوں کی صحبت اور درست آچرن اختیار کرے۔
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice; traditionally framed within Sūta’s discourse in Purāṇic setting)
Scene: A wise person boards a symbolic boat named 'Dharma' to cross a dark river of Tamas; on the far bank stand noble elders inviting with lamps; the unwise linger in shadowy company.
FAQs
Dharma and noble company (satsaṅga) enable one to cross the darkness of ignorance and moral decline.
No particular tīrtha is specified; the verse emphasizes the ‘inner tīrtha’ of pure association and conduct.
No fixed ritual is listed; the practice prescribed is continual sadācāra and association with the virtuous.