Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 46
ततः प्रोवाच वचनं धर्मो धर्मभृतां वरः । शृण्वतां धर्मपालानां मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
tataḥ provāca vacanaṃ dharmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | śṛṇvatāṃ dharmapālānāṃ meghagambhīrayā girā
അനന്തരം ധർമ്മം—ധർമ്മധാരികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ—ശ്രവിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന ധർമ്മപാലകരോട് മേഘഗംഭീരമായ സ്വരത്തിൽ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു।
Dharma (personified)
Scene: Dharma appears as a radiant, austere figure (or as a dignified sage-like embodiment), addressing dharmapālas; the air seems to vibrate like thunder as he begins his pronouncement.
FAQs
Dharma is not merely abstract; in Purāṇic narrative it is a living authority that proclaims the rule of righteousness and its sacred exceptions.
The speech introduces the proclamation that will glorify Śukla Tīrtha on the Narmadā.
No rite is stated yet; the verse signals an authoritative declaration about a tīrtha’s spiritual jurisdiction.