Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 61
काकप्राये नरे यस्मिन्रमंते तामसा जनाः । हंसोऽयमिति देवानां कोऽर्थस्तेन विचिंत्यताम्
kākaprāye nare yasminramaṃte tāmasā janāḥ | haṃso'yamiti devānāṃ ko'rthastena viciṃtyatām
ज्या ‘काकासारख्या’ मनुष्यात तामसी लोक रमतात, त्याला ‘हंस’ मानण्यात देवांना काय प्रयोजन? याचा विचार करावा।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A crowd of dark-clad tamasic figures garland a crow-headed man, while luminous devas look away; a swan stands apart near a lotus lake, symbolizing the divine standard of purity.
FAQs
Spiritual discernment matters: do not glorify low conduct as purity; character is known by the company it attracts.
None; the verse uses ethical metaphors rather than praising a particular sacred geography.
No; it advises reflection and discernment (viveka) rather than a ritual act.