Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52
पुरा भवादृशः कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणो धर्मवर्जितः । द्राविडेषु स्थितो मूढः कर्मणा शूद्रतां गतः
purā bhavādṛśaḥ kaścidbrāhmaṇo dharmavarjitaḥ | drāviḍeṣu sthito mūḍhaḥ karmaṇā śūdratāṃ gataḥ
പണ്ടുകാലത്ത് നിനക്കുപോലൊരു ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; പക്ഷേ അവൻ ധർമ്മവിരഹിതൻ. ദ്രാവിഡദേശത്ത് പാർത്തു ആ മൂഢൻ തന്റെ കർമങ്ങളാൽ ശൂദ്രസ്ഥിതിയിലേക്കു പതിച്ചു.
Vāmadeva
Listener: The seeker/questioner
Scene: A flashback tableau: a brāhmaṇa who abandoned dharma lives among Drāviḍas, appearing confused and morally fallen; the scene contrasts sacred discipline with neglect—torn sacred thread, unkempt appearance, shadowed palette.
FAQs
Status is upheld by dharma and conduct; adharma and wrongful karma lead to spiritual and social degradation.
No site is named; the verse sets up a didactic story illustrating purification and merit later in the episode.
None in this verse; it introduces a karmic backstory for a later demonstration of grace/purification.