Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26
न रजक्या न हैतुक्या तथा श्रमणया न च । न च दुर्भगया क्वापि सखित्वं कुरुते सती
na rajakyā na haitukyā tathā śramaṇayā na ca | na ca durbhagayā kvāpi sakhitvaṃ kurute satī
La femme vertueuse ne noue pas d’amitié intime avec une blanchisseuse, ni avec une femme guidée par l’intérêt, ni avec une ascète (śramaṇī), ni nulle part avec une compagne de mauvais destin ou de mœurs corrompues.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A Kāśī lane near ghats: a dignified woman turns away from a group engaged in gossip and transactional talk, choosing instead to walk toward a temple with a modest companion—visualizing discernment in association.
FAQs
It emphasizes guarding one’s character by carefully choosing companions, a key pillar of dharmic household life.
Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting; the verse itself is ethical instruction rather than a tīrtha-description.
No ritual is prescribed; it provides social-ethical discipline (saṅga-niyama) as part of vrata-like conduct.