Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40
लिंगस्य मस्तकं दृष्टं देवानां च मृषा वदेः । ते सर्वे यदि वक्ष्यंति इंद्राद्या देवतागणाः
liṃgasya mastakaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ devānāṃ ca mṛṣā vadeḥ | te sarve yadi vakṣyaṃti iṃdrādyā devatāgaṇāḥ
«Je dirai mensongèrement aux dieux que j’ai vu la tête du Liṅga, si toutes les assemblées de divinités, à commencer par Indra, l’affirment aussi pour me soutenir.»
Brahmā (implied internal resolve in the narrative)
Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Audience within the Skanda Purāṇa frame
Scene: Brahmā, calculating, turns toward the assembled devas; Indra and others appear as potential supporters; the endless liṅga looms, contrasting truth with intended lie.
FAQs
False testimony (mṛṣā-vāda) is a breach of Dharma, especially when used to gain prestige before divine assemblies.
The Kedāra region is the narrative frame; the ethical teaching supports the Mahātmya by showing how the divine presence exposes untruth.
None; the verse concerns moral choice and collective complicity.