Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18
भक्ते द्वेषो बहिः प्रीती रुचितं गुरुलघ्वपि । मुखे च कटुता नित्यं धनिनां ज्वरिणामिव
bhakte dveṣo bahiḥ prītī rucitaṃ gurulaghvapi | mukhe ca kaṭutā nityaṃ dhanināṃ jvariṇāmiva
Dem Frommen gegenüber hegen sie Hass, doch nach außen zeigen sie Zuneigung; am Schweren wie am Leichten finden sie Gefallen, wie es ihnen passt. Und in ihrem Mund ist stets Bitterkeit—wie bei Fiebernden—so sind die Reichen.
An unnamed renunciate/narrator within the Tīrthamāhātmya
Type: kshetra
Scene: A wealthy person greets a devotee with a forced smile while shadowy inner hostility is suggested; his mouth emits sharp, thorn-like speech motifs; nearby, a serene devotee remains composed.
FAQs
Greed can distort relationships—producing hypocrisy and harsh speech; dharma calls for inner sincerity toward bhaktas.
No specific tirtha is referenced in this verse; it supports the broader Mahatmya by teaching the conduct suited to pilgrims and seekers.
No explicit rite; the implied sādhana is ethical restraint—sweet speech, sincerity, and reverence for devotees.