Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 31
धूर्त्तं चंडं शठं क्रूरं कितवं चपलं खलम् । पतितं नास्तिकं जिह्मं दूरतः परिवर्जय
dhūrttaṃ caṃḍaṃ śaṭhaṃ krūraṃ kitavaṃ capalaṃ khalam | patitaṃ nāstikaṃ jihmaṃ dūrataḥ parivarjaya
धूर्त, उग्र, शठ, क्रूर, जुगारी, चंचल खल, पतित, नास्तिक आणि कुटिल—यांना दूरूनच वर्ज्य कर।
Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)
Scene: A pilgrim keeps a respectful distance from a row of archetypal wrongdoers—gambler with dice, cruel man with whip, crooked man with bent posture, hypocrite with false marks—while walking toward a bright temple path guarded by dharma.
FAQs
Spiritual and social well-being depend on avoiding harmful associations and character-corrupting company.
No tīrtha is referenced; it is general dharma counsel.
None; the instruction is practical—maintain distance from destructive persons.