Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 39
उपदेशो न कर्तव्यो जातिहीनस्य कर्हिचित् । उपदेशे महान्दोष उपाध्यायस्य विद्यते
upadeśo na kartavyo jātihīnasya karhicit | upadeśe mahāndoṣa upādhyāyasya vidyate
«On ne doit jamais donner d’enseignement (upadeśa) à celui qu’on tient pour “dépourvu de statut de jāti”, selon la règle rituelle et sociale. Si l’enseignement est donné, on dit qu’une grave faute s’attache au maître.»
Kulapati (Brahmin hermitage head)
Tirtha: Setutīrtha (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dṛḍhamati
Scene: The kulapati issues a cautionary injunction: do not give instruction to one deemed ‘jāti-hīna’ by the prevailing rule; the atmosphere is austere, emphasizing the weight of śāstric responsibility on the teacher.
FAQs
It reflects a rule-bound model of adhikāra (eligibility), emphasizing the perceived responsibility and risk borne by a teacher in transmitting instruction.
The verse is part of the Setu-kṣetra narrative framework, though it primarily addresses instruction norms rather than praising a tirtha directly.
A prohibition on giving upadeśa to one deemed ineligible (jātihīna) and the assertion of doṣa (fault) for the upādhyāya if violated.