Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 27
न दुर्जनसमाकीर्णे न शूद्रश्वापदावृते । देशे न द्यूतसदने वदेत्पुण्यकथां सुधीः
na durjanasamākīrṇe na śūdraśvāpadāvṛte | deśe na dyūtasadane vadetpuṇyakathāṃ sudhīḥ
दुर्जनों से भरे स्थान में, शूद्रों और हिंसक पशुओं से आक्रांत प्रदेश में, तथा जुए के अड्डे में—बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति पुण्यकथा न कहे।
Narratorial Purāṇic voice (context not explicit in the snippet)
Scene: Two contrasted spaces: a serene temple courtyard with lamps and seated listeners versus a noisy gambling house with dice, quarrels, and shadowy figures; the wise narrator chooses the former.
FAQs
The fruit of kathā depends on the sanctity of the setting; avoid places dominated by adharma and distraction.
No particular tīrtha is named; the verse contrasts unfit places with appropriate sacred venues.
A venue restriction: do not conduct Purāṇa-kathā in gambling houses or in places associated with adharma and danger.