Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15
ब्रह्मोवाच । न पुण्यं केवलं राजन्गुप्तं स्वर्गस्य साधकम् । विना निष्कल्मषां कीर्ति त्रिलोकीतलविस्तृताम्
brahmovāca | na puṇyaṃ kevalaṃ rājanguptaṃ svargasya sādhakam | vinā niṣkalmaṣāṃ kīrti trilokītalavistṛtām
梵天说道：“大王啊，唯有福德——尤其是隐而不显的福德——并不能单独成就天界；若无清净无垢、遍满三界的声名，则不足以为凭。”
Brahmā (identified by ‘brahmovāca’)
Listener: Indradyumna
Scene: Brahmā explains with calm precision: a balance-scale motif of ‘puṇya’ versus ‘niṣkalmaṣā kīrti’ spanning the three worlds; the king listens, chastened.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma values not only inner merit but also blameless, publicly beneficial conduct that becomes ‘kīrti’—a moral force in the world.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches a general dharma principle relevant to kings and householders.
None; it is a doctrinal statement about the conditions supporting heavenly attainment.