Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 33
सोष्णीषमस्तका ये च कथां शृण्वंति पावनीम् । ते बलाकाः प्रजायन्ते पापिनो मनुजाधमाः
soṣṇīṣamastakā ye ca kathāṃ śṛṇvaṃti pāvanīm | te balākāḥ prajāyante pāpino manujādhamāḥ
যে পাপী, মানুষের মধ্যে অধম, মাথা আবৃত রেখেই (অশ্রদ্ধায়) পবিত্র কাহিনি শোনে, সে বলাকা (বক/সারস) পাখি হয়ে জন্মায়।
Unknown (context not supplied; likely a purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)
Scene: A purāṇa-kathā assembly: a vyāsa on a low āsana, listeners seated on the ground; one man keeps his head covered in casual disregard; the narrative’s moral consequence is symbolized by a crane/heron silhouette behind him.
FAQs
Approach purāṇic kathā with reverence; disrespectful listening becomes a karmic fault.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches general dharma for kathā-śravaṇa.
Maintain respectful posture and decorum—here, not covering the head while listening.