Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 39
भेदास्त्रयः समाख्याता विज्ञेयाः स्मृतिनिर्णयात् । शिल्पिनः सप्त विज्ञेया उत्तमाः समुदाहृताः
bhedāstrayaḥ samākhyātā vijñeyāḥ smṛtinirṇayāt | śilpinaḥ sapta vijñeyā uttamāḥ samudāhṛtāḥ
Menurut ketetapan Smṛti, tiga kategori diajarkan untuk diketahui. Antaranya, tujuh jenis tukang mahir hendaklah difahami, dan mereka dinyatakan sebagai yang terunggul.
Brahmā (in Brahma–Nārada dialogue context)
Scene: A scribe reads from a Smṛti manuscript while seven artisan figures stand with their tools in a respectful semicircle, indicating recognized status.
FAQs
Dharma recognizes ordered social functions; even worldly crafts are placed within a sacred framework when aligned with scriptural ethics.
The broader section belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya within the Nāgara Khaṇḍa (a tīrtha-focused glorification).
No specific rite is prescribed here; the verse introduces a Smṛti-grounded classification that is elaborated in subsequent verses.