Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52
पुरा भवादृशः कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणो धर्मवर्जितः । द्राविडेषु स्थितो मूढः कर्मणा शूद्रतां गतः
purā bhavādṛśaḥ kaścidbrāhmaṇo dharmavarjitaḥ | drāviḍeṣu sthito mūḍhaḥ karmaṇā śūdratāṃ gataḥ
পূর্বে তোমারই মতো এক ব্রাহ্মণ ছিল, কিন্তু সে ধর্মবর্জিত ছিল। দ্রাবিড়দেশে বাস করে সেই মূঢ় ব্যক্তি কর্মদোষে শূদ্রত্বে পতিত হয়েছিল।
Vāmadeva
Listener: The seeker/questioner
Scene: A flashback tableau: a brāhmaṇa who abandoned dharma lives among Drāviḍas, appearing confused and morally fallen; the scene contrasts sacred discipline with neglect—torn sacred thread, unkempt appearance, shadowed palette.
FAQs
Status is upheld by dharma and conduct; adharma and wrongful karma lead to spiritual and social degradation.
No site is named; the verse sets up a didactic story illustrating purification and merit later in the episode.
None in this verse; it introduces a karmic backstory for a later demonstration of grace/purification.