Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 27
न दुर्जनसमाकीर्णे न शूद्रश्वापदावृते । देशे न द्यूतसदने वदेत्पुण्यकथां सुधीः
na durjanasamākīrṇe na śūdraśvāpadāvṛte | deśe na dyūtasadane vadetpuṇyakathāṃ sudhīḥ
Ein Weiser soll die verdienstvolle heilige Erzählung nicht an einem Ort vortragen, der von Übeltätern wimmelt, noch in einer Gegend, die von Ausgestoßenen und wilden Tieren heimgesucht wird, noch in einem Spielhaus.
Narratorial Purāṇic voice (context not explicit in the snippet)
Scene: Two contrasted spaces: a serene temple courtyard with lamps and seated listeners versus a noisy gambling house with dice, quarrels, and shadowy figures; the wise narrator chooses the former.
FAQs
The fruit of kathā depends on the sanctity of the setting; avoid places dominated by adharma and distraction.
No particular tīrtha is named; the verse contrasts unfit places with appropriate sacred venues.
A venue restriction: do not conduct Purāṇa-kathā in gambling houses or in places associated with adharma and danger.