Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 71
स्थानिकं मूर्खमप्येवमलाभे गुणिनामपि । हीनांगमधिकांगं वा दूषितं नो तथा परम्
sthānikaṃ mūrkhamapyevamalābhe guṇināmapi | hīnāṃgamadhikāṃgaṃ vā dūṣitaṃ no tathā param
បើព្រាហ្មណ៍មានគុណធម៌ (មានសមត្ថភាព) មិនអាចរកបាន ទោះជាព្រាហ្មណ៍មូលដ្ឋាន—even បើល្ងង់—ក៏អាចទទួលយកបាន; ព្រោះគាត់មិនអាក្រក់ដូចអ្នកដែលកខ្វក់ (មិនបរិសុទ្ធ) ទេ ទោះខ្វះអវយវៈ ឬលើសអវយវៈក៏ដោយ។
Skanda (deduced)
Type: ghat
Listener: nṛpa (king)
Scene: A pilgrim consults elders at a ghat: a humble local brāhmaṇa stands to one side; a visibly ‘tainted’ figure is refused. The scene emphasizes discernment rather than spectacle.
FAQs
When ideal options are absent, dharma permits a pragmatic substitute, but impurity that corrupts the rite should be avoided.
The verse reflects the tīrtha’s ritual culture (respect for locals) within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s sacred-place instructions.
If qualified brāhmaṇas cannot be found, accept a local; but avoid those considered dūṣita (ritually tainted).