Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 24
तत्कथं मम विप्रेन्द्राश्चंडालस्याधमात्मनः । धर्ममेवं विजानन्तो नूनमन्नं जिहीर्षथ
tatkathaṃ mama viprendrāścaṃḍālasyādhamātmanaḥ | dharmamevaṃ vijānanto nūnamannaṃ jihīrṣatha
Kalau demikian, wahai brahmana termulia, bagaimana mungkin kalian—yang memahami dharma demikian—kini hendak menerima makanan dariku, seorang caṇḍāla yang berhati rendah?
A caṇḍāla (addressing Brahmin sages/pilgrims)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and other Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (frame, typical) / internal interlocutors: sages addressed by the caṇḍāla
Scene: A humbled caṇḍāla addresses a group of austere sages at Prabhāsa, questioning how they can accept food from him despite knowing dharma; the moment is charged with social boundary and compassion.
FAQs
Dharma involves discernment; the verse sets up a conflict between strict purity codes and the realities of survival and compassion.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where nuanced dharma discussions form part of the sacred narrative.
None; it is a challenge within a dialogue about whether food may be accepted.