Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 53
प्रत्यक्षं कारयेद्दिव्यं राज्ञो वाधिकृतस्य वा । ब्राह्मणानां श्रुतवतां प्रकृतीनां तथैव च
pratyakṣaṃ kārayeddivyaṃ rājño vādhikṛtasya vā | brāhmaṇānāṃ śrutavatāṃ prakṛtīnāṃ tathaiva ca
দিব্য-পরীক্ষা প্রকাশ্যে করিবে—রাজা বা তাহার নিযুক্ত অধিকৃতের সম্মুখে; এবং শ্রুতিধর ব্রাহ্মণগণ ও প্রজাজনের (সাক্ষীসমূহের) সন্নিধানেও।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A public hall or temple-court: king or officer seated; brāhmaṇas with scriptures; townspeople gathered; the ordeal area marked; all proceedings visible.
FAQs
Justice must be transparent and witnessed—dharma is strengthened when decisions are made in the open under sacred and social oversight.
No holy site is mentioned; this verse concerns governance and procedural dharma.
The ordeal is to be conducted publicly before the king or an authorized officer, with learned brāhmaṇas and the community as witnesses.