Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 36
नारद उवाच । कथं च जायते गोत्रं कथं तु ज्ञायते कुलम् । कथं वा ज्ञायते देवी तद्वदस्व यथार्थतः
nārada uvāca | kathaṃ ca jāyate gotraṃ kathaṃ tu jñāyate kulam | kathaṃ vā jñāyate devī tadvadasva yathārthataḥ
নাৰদে ক’লে: গোত্ৰ কেনেকৈ উৎপন্ন হয়, আৰু কুল কেনেকৈ জনা যায়? আৰু বংশদেৱী কেনেকৈ চিনাক্ত হয়? সেই কথা সত্য আৰু নিখুঁতভাৱে মোক কওক।
Nārada
Tirtha: Svasthāna (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Brahmā
Scene: Nārada, holding vīṇā, respectfully questions Brahmā seated on a lotus; the background shows a forest-hermitage ambience suggesting Dharmāraṇyaka; the scene emphasizes inquiry and precise instruction.
FAQs
A seeker should inquire into dharma with precision—understanding lineage and its sacred markers to perform rites correctly.
The discussion supports the Svasthāna/Dharmāraṇya context by clarifying how residents’ ritual identities are determined.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the verse requests authoritative criteria for determining gotra, kula, and the associated deity.