Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 13
यदि तान्भोः प्रशंसामि स्वीयान्स्तौतीति वाच्यता । निंदाम्यनर्हान्कस्माद्वा कष्टमेवोभयत्र च
yadi tānbhoḥ praśaṃsāmi svīyānstautīti vācyatā | niṃdāmyanarhānkasmādvā kaṣṭamevobhayatra ca
यदि मैं उनका स्तवन करूँ तो लोग कहेंगे—‘यह अपने ही जनों की प्रशंसा करता है।’ और यदि मैं अयोग्य-निन्दा करूँ, तो वह क्यों करूँ? दोनों ही ओर कठिनाई है।
Nārada
Tirtha: Nārada-sthāpita-sthāna (unnamed)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Bhāskara (Ravi)
Scene: Nārada expresses a thoughtful hesitation: praising may seem nepotistic, blaming would be unjust; his face shows reflective restraint while Bhāskara listens.
FAQs
Right speech is dharma: avoid self-serving praise and avoid unjust criticism; discernment and humility protect truth.
No tirtha is directly described; the verse concerns ethical restraint while speaking about holy persons.
None; it is a moral reflection on stuti (praise) and nindā (blame).