Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
केवलं निन्दने चैव तत्पापं लभते गुरु । यथा शृण्वान एव स्यात्पातकी न ततः परः
kevalaṃ nindane caiva tatpāpaṃ labhate guru | yathā śṛṇvāna eva syātpātakī na tataḥ paraḥ
Rien qu’en se livrant à la médisance, on récolte ce lourd péché. De même, celui qui ne fait qu’écouter devient pécheur : nul n’est pire que lui.
Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya didactic narration)
Scene: Two groups at a tīrtha rest-house: one gossiping, one doing kīrtana. A traveler covers his ears and walks toward the kīrtana, showing that even listening to slander is sinful.
FAQs
One must avoid both speaking and entertaining slander; moral responsibility extends to attentive listening.
No particular tirtha is mentioned; the instruction supports purity for all sacred observances.
Do not participate in gossip—neither as speaker nor as listener—especially in vow-season disciplines.