Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23
कस्यचिद्रूपमत्युग्रं न कुलं च सुनिर्मलम् । कुलं रूपं च यस्य स्यात्तस्य नो गुणसंचयः
kasyacidrūpamatyugraṃ na kulaṃ ca sunirmalam | kulaṃ rūpaṃ ca yasya syāttasya no guṇasaṃcayaḥ
فمنهم مَن كان جمالُه صارخًا، غيرَ أنّ نسبَه ليس نقيًّا تمامًا؛ ومنهم مَن اجتمع له النسبُ والجمالُ، ولكن تنقصه ذخيرةُ الفضائل.
Sūta (contextual continuation)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A series of suitors shown in contrasting panels: one radiant but with shadowed/tainted family backdrop; another noble family setting and handsome face but with subtle signs of arrogance or vice; the brāhmaṇa notes the imbalance.
FAQs
Dharma prioritizes virtues (guṇa) over mere beauty (rūpa) or social pedigree (kula).
Not specified in this verse; it functions as moral commentary within a pilgrimage-style narrative.
None; the verse teaches criteria of character rather than ritual performance.