Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 61
काकप्राये नरे यस्मिन्रमंते तामसा जनाः । हंसोऽयमिति देवानां कोऽर्थस्तेन विचिंत्यताम्
kākaprāye nare yasminramaṃte tāmasā janāḥ | haṃso'yamiti devānāṃ ko'rthastena viciṃtyatām
Wenn tamasische Menschen sich an einem „krähenhaften“ Mann ergötzen, welchen Zweck hätten die Götter, ihn als „Schwan“ zu bedenken? Darüber sei nachgesonnen.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A crowd of dark-clad tamasic figures garland a crow-headed man, while luminous devas look away; a swan stands apart near a lotus lake, symbolizing the divine standard of purity.
FAQs
Spiritual discernment matters: do not glorify low conduct as purity; character is known by the company it attracts.
None; the verse uses ethical metaphors rather than praising a particular sacred geography.
No; it advises reflection and discernment (viveka) rather than a ritual act.