Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 26
न रजक्या न हैतुक्या तथा श्रमणया न च । न च दुर्भगया क्वापि सखित्वं कुरुते सती
na rajakyā na haitukyā tathā śramaṇayā na ca | na ca durbhagayā kvāpi sakhitvaṃ kurute satī
Seorang wanita suci tidak menjalin keakraban dengan perempuan pencuci pakaian, dengan perempuan yang hanya mengejar kepentingan diri, dengan śramaṇī (pertapa perempuan), maupun dengan teman yang bernasib buruk atau berakhlak menyimpang.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A Kāśī lane near ghats: a dignified woman turns away from a group engaged in gossip and transactional talk, choosing instead to walk toward a temple with a modest companion—visualizing discernment in association.
FAQs
It emphasizes guarding one’s character by carefully choosing companions, a key pillar of dharmic household life.
Kāśī is the overarching sacred setting; the verse itself is ethical instruction rather than a tīrtha-description.
No ritual is prescribed; it provides social-ethical discipline (saṅga-niyama) as part of vrata-like conduct.