Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 80
वार्यतामिति विप्रोऽयं महद्दूषणबाषकः । न केवलं पापभागी श्रोता वै स्यान्न संशयः
vāryatāmiti vipro'yaṃ mahaddūṣaṇabāṣakaḥ | na kevalaṃ pāpabhāgī śrotā vai syānna saṃśayaḥ
“ಇವನನ್ನು ತಡೆಯಿರಿ!”—ಈ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನು ಮಹಾ ನಿಂದೆಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಹೇಳುವವನು ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಕೇಳುವವನು ಕೂಡ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಪಾಪಭಾಗಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ—ಸಂದೇಹವಿಲ್ಲ.
Character within the story (likely the sakhī/companions), narrator default: Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)
Scene: A companion urgently raises a hand to stop a brāhmaṇa from speaking; her expression is stern and protective, warning that even hearing the slander brings sin.
FAQs
Dharma includes guarding one’s speech and hearing; participating in slander—by speaking or listening—creates pāpa.
None; the verse is ethical instruction within a narrative.
A behavioral prescription: restrain slander and avoid listening to it.