Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 69
स्थानजोऽपि चतुर्वेदो यद्यपि स्यान्न शुद्धिभाक् । बहूनामपि शुद्धानां मध्ये श्राद्धं विनाशयेत्
sthānajo'pi caturvedo yadyapi syānna śuddhibhāk | bahūnāmapi śuddhānāṃ madhye śrāddhaṃ vināśayet
സ്ഥലവാസിയായ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ചതുര്വേദജ്ഞനായാലും ശുദ്ധിയില്ലെങ്കിൽ, അനേകം ശുദ്ധന്മാരുടെ മദ്ധ്യേ ഇരുന്നാലും അവൻ ആ ശ്രാദ്ധം നശിപ്പിക്കും.
Skanda (deduced)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A learned local brāhmaṇa with Vedic manuscripts appears outwardly authoritative, yet signs of impurity/neglect are shown; many pure brāhmaṇas sit properly; the officiant warns the yajamāna—teaching that ācāra outweighs mere scholarship.
FAQs
Ritual purity and conduct outweigh mere learning; dharma is safeguarded by śuddhi (purity) as well as knowledge.
The line supports tīrtha-dharma generally by instructing how to protect the sanctity of rites performed at holy places.
Do not include an impure person in the śrāddha seating—even if he is a learned local Veda-knower.