Verse Text
4. sādhu-vartmānuvartanam, yathā skānde—
sa mṛgyaḥ śreyasāṁ hetuḥ panthāḥ santāpa-varjitaḥ |
anavāptaśramaṁ pūrve yena santaḥ pratasthire ||100||
Translation
Following the scriptural rules (verse 74), from the Skanda Purāṇa: One should follow the scriptural rules which give the highest benefit and are devoid of hardship, by which the previous devotees easily progressed.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Sādhu-vartma (proper path) means “the path composed of rules from the śruti and other scriptures.”
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Following in the Footsteps of Saintly Persons
In the Skanda Purāṇa it is advised that a devotee follow the past ācāryas and saintly persons, because by such following one can achieve the desired results, with no chance of lamenting or being baffled in his progress.