Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 43
व्यास उवाच ज्ञायते गोत्रसंज्ञाऽथ केचिच्चैव पराक्रमैः । यस्ययस्य च यत्कर्म तस्य तस्यावटंककः
vyāsa uvāca jñāyate gotrasaṃjñā'tha keciccaiva parākramaiḥ | yasyayasya ca yatkarma tasya tasyāvaṭaṃkakaḥ
വ്യാസൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഗോത്രനാമം തിരിച്ചറിയപ്പെടുന്നു; ചിലർ തങ്ങളുടെ പരാക്രമം കൊണ്ടുതന്നെ പ്രസിദ്ധരാകുന്നു. ഓരോരുത്തൻ ചെയ്യുന്ന കര്മ്മം ഏതാണ്, അതുതന്നെ അവന്റെ അടയാളം (അവടങ്കക) ആകുന്നു।
Vyāsa
Listener: assembly including a prince/disciple
Scene: Vyāsa instructs: two figures contrasted—one with high lineage but lax conduct, another with modest birth yet noble deeds; symbolic ‘marks’ appear as emblems of their actions.
FAQs
True identity is recognized not only by birth-lineage but also by conduct and the visible signs of one’s chosen work aligned with dharma.
The teaching occurs within the Dharmāraṇya context, but this verse focuses on social-dharmic identification rather than a single tīrtha.
No direct ritual is stated; it supports correct self-identification used in rites (gotra/pravara) and dhārmic duties.