Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55
देवाग्निगुरुसाधूनां निंदा गोब्राह्मणस्य च । प्रत्यक्षं वा परोक्षं वा राज्ञां मंडलिनामपि
devāgnigurusādhūnāṃ niṃdā gobrāhmaṇasya ca | pratyakṣaṃ vā parokṣaṃ vā rājñāṃ maṃḍalināmapi
ದೇವರುಗಳು, ಪವಿತ್ರ ಅಗ್ನಿ, ಗುರು ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಧುಗಳ ನಿಂದೆ; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಗೋವು ಮತ್ತು ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರ ಅವಮಾನ—ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವಾಗಲಿ ಪರೋಕ್ಷವಾಗಲಿ—ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜರು ಹಾಗೂ ಆಡಳಿತಕರ ನಿಂದೆ—ಇದು ಪಾಪಾಚಾರ, ನಿಂದ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Scene: A pilgrim stands before a Śiva shrine with folded hands; nearby are a sacred fire/lamps, a seated guru, sādhus, a cow with calf, and a brāhmaṇa reciting—while shadowy figures whispering behind backs are shown being turned away, symbolizing rejection of slander.
FAQs
Purity of speech is dharma: disrespect toward the sacred, the virtuous, and social protectors creates spiritual demerit.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse provides general dharma that supports tīrtha-māhātmya practice.
It prescribes restraint from nindā (reviling) and cultivation of reverence; no single ritual act is detailed.