Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 46
सच्छूद्र उवाच । ब्रह्मन्वेदविदां श्रेष्ठ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । स्त्रीशूद्रादिनिषेधोऽयं शालिग्रामे हि श्रूयते
sacchūdra uvāca | brahmanvedavidāṃ śreṣṭha sarvaśāstraviśārada | strīśūdrādiniṣedho'yaṃ śāligrāme hi śrūyate
Śūdra yang berbudi berkata: “Wahai Brāhmaṇa, yang terbaik antara para mengetahui Veda dan mahir dalam segala śāstra—larangan tentang wanita, śūdra dan yang lain itu memang didengar berkenaan dengan Śāligrāma.”
Sacchūdra (a virtuous Śūdra)
Tirtha: Śāligrāma
Type: kshetra
Listener: brāhmaṇa teacher (addressed as vedavidāṃ śreṣṭha, sarvaśāstra-viśārada)
Scene: A respectful śūdra devotee with folded hands questions a venerable brāhmaṇa teacher holding manuscripts; the Śāligrāma shrine is visible, symbolizing the topic under debate.
FAQs
It models dharmic inquiry: when traditions appear restrictive or unclear, one should seek clarification from learned authorities.
No specific tīrtha is named; the focus is on Śāligrāma-related practice and its traditional rules.
The verse raises (rather than resolves) the issue of prohibitions connected with Śāligrāma worship.