Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 8
ये त्वां राजन्वदंत्येवं सर्वज्ञोऽयं युधिष्ठिरः । वृथैव वचनं तेषां यतस्त्वं वेत्सि नाण्वपि
ye tvāṃ rājanvadaṃtyevaṃ sarvajño'yaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | vṛthaiva vacanaṃ teṣāṃ yatastvaṃ vetsi nāṇvapi
ഹേ രാജാവേ! ‘ഈ യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ സർവ്വജ്ഞൻ’ എന്ന് പറയുന്നവരുടെ വാക്കുകൾ വ്യർത്ഥം; കാരണം നീ അണുമാത്രം പോലും അറിയുന്നില്ല.
Vāyuputra (Hanumān)
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame)
Scene: Vāyu’s son points out the hollowness of courtly praise; the king appears chastened, still in añjali, while the speaker stands firm, eyes sharp.
FAQs
Reputation is not wisdom; spiritual growth begins with recognizing one’s limitations and becoming receptive to instruction.
The tīrtha setting frames the instruction—pilgrimage is shown as a place not only of worship but of corrective teaching.
No new ritual is prescribed; the verse functions as upadeśa (instruction), preparing the listener for deeper teaching.