Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 132
वेदाः प्रमाणं स्मृतयः प्रमाणं धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनं प्रमाणम् । नैतत्त्रयं यस्य भवेत्प्रमाणं कस्तस्य कुर्याद्वचनं प्रमाणम्
vedāḥ pramāṇaṃ smṛtayaḥ pramāṇaṃ dharmārthayuktaṃ vacanaṃ pramāṇam | naitattrayaṃ yasya bhavetpramāṇaṃ kastasya kuryādvacanaṃ pramāṇam
وید پرمان ہیں، اسمریتیاں بھی پرمان ہیں، اور وہ کلام بھی پرمان ہے جو دھرم اور درست مقصد کے مطابق ہو۔ مگر جس کے نزدیک یہ تینوں ہی حجت نہ ہوں، اُس کے قول کو کون حجت مانے؟
Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa) in Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context (deduced)
Scene: A triad of luminous texts/symbols: Veda (śruti) as a radiant manuscript, Smṛti as a codex, and a balanced scale labeled dharma-artha-yukta-vacana; a skeptical figure stands aside, his speech depicted as fading smoke.
FAQs
True guidance is measured by śāstra—Veda, Smṛti, and dharma-grounded counsel; ignoring them makes one’s speech unreliable.
No tirtha is named in this verse; it sets the doctrinal standard that frames the later praise of Bahūdaka-kuṇḍa and Kapileśvara.
None directly; the verse establishes scriptural authority as the basis for right conduct.