Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 129
तांश्च सेवेद्विशेषेण शास्त्रं येषां हि विद्यते । असतां दर्शनस्पर्शसंजल्पासनभोजनैः
tāṃśca sevedviśeṣeṇa śāstraṃ yeṣāṃ hi vidyate | asatāṃ darśanasparśasaṃjalpāsanabhojanaiḥ
विशेष रूप से उन्हीं की सेवा करनी चाहिए जिनके पास वास्तव में शास्त्र-विद्या है। क्योंकि दुष्टों को देखना, छूना, उनसे बात करना, साथ बैठना और साथ भोजन करना—इनसे मनुष्य कलुषित हो जाता है।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) addressing the sages (deduced)
Scene: A pilgrim-scholar respectfully serving a śāstra-knowing elder, while in the background a group of coarse men invite him to sit and eat; the pilgrim turns away, symbolizing avoidance of contaminating company.
FAQs
Honor and serve the truly scriptural and righteous; avoid intimate association with the unethical, as it degrades one’s purity.
No specific holy site is mentioned; the guidance supports pilgrim-dharma by stressing purity of association.
An implicit purity rule is given: avoid sharing close contact and meals with the wicked; prioritize service to the learned.