Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 17
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । कथयस्व महाभाग कथं ते गुरवः स्थिताः । कीदृशं च त्वया दृष्टं तेषां चैव विचेष्टितम्
brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | kathayasva mahābhāga kathaṃ te guravaḥ sthitāḥ | kīdṛśaṃ ca tvayā dṛṣṭaṃ teṣāṃ caiva viceṣṭitam
Les brāhmanes dirent : «Ô toi, grandement favorisé, dis‑nous : en quelle condition se tiennent tes maîtres ? Qu’as‑tu toi‑même observé d’eux, et quelle conduite, quelles actions ont‑ils manifestées ?»
Brāhmaṇas (in dialogue with the Atithi)
Listener: brāhmaṇas (assembly)
Scene: A circle of brāhmaṇas, hands folded, respectfully questioning a traveler/guest; the guest sits composed, ready to narrate.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma values learning through authentic teachers and evaluating conduct (ācāra) alongside knowledge.
This verse is part of the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya setting, but this particular line focuses on inquiry into teachers rather than naming a specific tīrtha.
No ritual (snāna, dāna, japa, vrata) is prescribed in this verse; it is a dialogic prompt.