Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 76
विशंका जायते तस्मिन्वाक्यं तदपि दोषवत् । तस्माद्यः स्वप्रियं त्यक्त्वा श्रोतुश्चाप्यथ यत्प्रियम्
viśaṃkā jāyate tasminvākyaṃ tadapi doṣavat | tasmādyaḥ svapriyaṃ tyaktvā śrotuścāpyatha yatpriyam
Gegenüber einer solchen Aussage entsteht Misstrauen, und selbst diese Rede wird befleckt. Darum soll man aufgeben, was nur einem selbst gefällt, und auch bedenken, was dem Hörer angenehm ist—
Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta (deduced, Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative frame)
Scene: A clear water pot symbolizes pure speech; when self-pleasing motives enter, the water clouds and a serpent of suspicion coils around it; when motives are purified, the water clears and reflects a deity’s light.
FAQs
Self-serving speech breeds doubt; dharmic speech avoids ego-driven pleasure and seeks trustworthy communication.
No holy site is referenced in this verse.
None; the ‘prescription’ is cultivating trust by purifying motives in speech.