Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 26
ये धूर्ता ये च दुर्वृत्ता ये चान्ये विजिगीषवः । तेषां कुटिलवृत्तीनामग्रे नैव वदेत्कथाम्
ye dhūrtā ye ca durvṛttā ye cānye vijigīṣavaḥ | teṣāṃ kuṭilavṛttīnāmagre naiva vadetkathām
যারা ধূর্ত, যারা দুরাচারী, এবং যারা জয়লালসায় উন্মত্ত—এমন কুটিলচরিত্রদের সামনে ধর্মকথা একেবারেই বলা উচিত নয়।
Narratorial Purāṇic voice (context not explicit in the snippet)
Scene: A narrator withholding the manuscript, gently turning away from a group of scheming, quarrelsome men; he instead moves toward a calm assembly of sādhus under a tree.
FAQs
Sacred teaching should be offered in a receptive, dharmic environment; hostile or deceitful audiences undermine the sanctity and purpose of kathā.
None; the focus is on discernment regarding the audience.
A practical restriction: do not recite Purāṇa-kathā in front of deceitful or immoral people.