Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 46
ततः प्रोवाच वचनं धर्मो धर्मभृतां वरः । शृण्वतां धर्मपालानां मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
tataḥ provāca vacanaṃ dharmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | śṛṇvatāṃ dharmapālānāṃ meghagambhīrayā girā
ત્યારબાદ ધર્મ—ધર્મધારકોમાં શ્રેષ્ઠ—સાંભળતા ધર્મપાલોને મેઘગંભીર વાણીમાં બોલ્યા।
Dharma (personified)
Scene: Dharma appears as a radiant, austere figure (or as a dignified sage-like embodiment), addressing dharmapālas; the air seems to vibrate like thunder as he begins his pronouncement.
FAQs
Dharma is not merely abstract; in Purāṇic narrative it is a living authority that proclaims the rule of righteousness and its sacred exceptions.
The speech introduces the proclamation that will glorify Śukla Tīrtha on the Narmadā.
No rite is stated yet; the verse signals an authoritative declaration about a tīrtha’s spiritual jurisdiction.