Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
विरुद्धं यत्त्रिवर्गेण न्यूनं कष्टातिशब्दकम् । व्युत्क्रमाभिहृतं यच् सशेषं चाप्यहेतुकम्
viruddhaṃ yattrivargeṇa nyūnaṃ kaṣṭātiśabdakam | vyutkramābhihṛtaṃ yac saśeṣaṃ cāpyahetukam
जो वाणी धर्म-अर्थ-काम—इन त्रिवर्ग के विरुद्ध हो, जो न्यून (अपूर्ण) हो, जो कष्टदायक या अतिशय शब्दों वाली हो; जो उलटे-सीधे क्रम से कही गई हो; जो अधूरी रह जाए और जो बिना उचित हेतु के कही जाए—वह दोषयुक्त है।
Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta (deduced, Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative frame)
Scene: A council-like teaching: the speaker lays out dharma-aligned points in orderly sequence on a board/manuscript; a contrasting figure speaks chaotically and is gently corrected; emphasis on ‘krama’ and ‘hetu’.
FAQs
Righteous speech supports dharma and should be coherent, complete, and purposeful—never harsh, confused, or baseless.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it teaches general purāṇic dharma about disciplined speech.
No external ritual is prescribed; the instruction is an inner discipline—purifying speech by avoiding recognized faults.