Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 122
आदौ मध्ये तथा चांते येषां वाक्यमदोषवत् । कषदाहैः स्वर्णमिव च्छेदेऽपि स्याच्छुभं शुभम्
ādau madhye tathā cāṃte yeṣāṃ vākyamadoṣavat | kaṣadāhaiḥ svarṇamiva cchede'pi syācchubhaṃ śubham
ಆದಿ, ಮಧ್ಯ, ಅಂತ್ಯ—ಮೂರೂ ಕಡೆ ದೋಷರಹಿತವಾದ ವಾಕ್ಯವಿರುವವರು, ಕಸೋಟಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅಗ್ನಿಯಿಂದ ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿತ ಚಿನ್ನದಂತೆ; ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿದರೂ ಶುಭವೇ ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತದೆ.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) addressing the sages (deduced)
Scene: Goldsmith imagery: a pure gold ornament is rubbed on a touchstone, heated in fire, and even cut—yet it shines; beside it, a scroll of flawless words remains unblemished through scrutiny.
FAQs
True speech is consistent and withstands scrutiny; integrity is proven through testing, not appearance.
No tīrtha is directly mentioned; the verse supports dharmic discernment applicable to all sacred journeys.
None; the ‘test’ is metaphorical—evaluating consistency and purity of words.