Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 71
स्थानिकं मूर्खमप्येवमलाभे गुणिनामपि । हीनांगमधिकांगं वा दूषितं नो तथा परम्
sthānikaṃ mūrkhamapyevamalābhe guṇināmapi | hīnāṃgamadhikāṃgaṃ vā dūṣitaṃ no tathā param
Sind tugendhafte (geeignete) Brāhmaṇas nicht zu erlangen, so mag man auch einen Ortsansässigen—selbst wenn er unwissend ist—annehmen; denn er ist nicht so schädlich wie ein „Befleckter“ (Unreiner), ob an Gliedern mangelhaft oder überzählig.
Skanda (deduced)
Type: ghat
Listener: nṛpa (king)
Scene: A pilgrim consults elders at a ghat: a humble local brāhmaṇa stands to one side; a visibly ‘tainted’ figure is refused. The scene emphasizes discernment rather than spectacle.
FAQs
When ideal options are absent, dharma permits a pragmatic substitute, but impurity that corrupts the rite should be avoided.
The verse reflects the tīrtha’s ritual culture (respect for locals) within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s sacred-place instructions.
If qualified brāhmaṇas cannot be found, accept a local; but avoid those considered dūṣita (ritually tainted).