Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 26
ये धूर्ता ये च दुर्वृत्ता ये चान्ये विजिगीषवः । तेषां कुटिलवृत्तीनामग्रे नैव वदेत्कथाम्
ye dhūrtā ye ca durvṛttā ye cānye vijigīṣavaḥ | teṣāṃ kuṭilavṛttīnāmagre naiva vadetkathām
ଯେ ଧୂର୍ତ୍ତ, ଯେ ଦୁର୍ବୃତ୍ତ, ଏବଂ ଯେ ଅନ୍ୟେ ଜୟଲୋଲୁପ—ସେହି କୁଟିଳବୃତ୍ତିମାନଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ କଥା କଦାପି କହିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।
Narratorial Purāṇic voice (context not explicit in the snippet)
Scene: A narrator withholding the manuscript, gently turning away from a group of scheming, quarrelsome men; he instead moves toward a calm assembly of sādhus under a tree.
FAQs
Sacred teaching should be offered in a receptive, dharmic environment; hostile or deceitful audiences undermine the sanctity and purpose of kathā.
None; the focus is on discernment regarding the audience.
A practical restriction: do not recite Purāṇa-kathā in front of deceitful or immoral people.