Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19
वसिष्ठ उवाच । अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे स्वैरेष्वपि हि जिह्वया । तस्मान्नास्ति मखः कश्चित्सत्यं त्वं यष्टुमिच्छसि
vasiṣṭha uvāca | anṛtaṃ noktapūrvaṃ me svaireṣvapi hi jihvayā | tasmānnāsti makhaḥ kaścitsatyaṃ tvaṃ yaṣṭumicchasi
ବସିଷ୍ଠ କହିଲେ—ମୋ ଜିଭା ପୂର୍ବେ କେବେ, ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛା ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଅସତ୍ୟ କହିନାହିଁ। ତେଣୁ ତୁମେ ଯେପରି ଯଜ୍ଞ ଚାହୁଁଛ, ସେପରି ମଖ ନାହିଁ; ସତ୍ୟ ହେଉଛି ତୁମେ ଧର୍ମସମ୍ମତ ନୁହେଁ ଏମିତି କ୍ରିୟା କରିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛ।
Vasiṣṭha
Listener: Triśaṅku
Scene: Vasiṣṭha, serene and austere, addresses King Triśaṅku in a royal-sacrificial hall; sages sit in rows, fire-altars present but unlit, emphasizing refusal grounded in truth.
FAQs
Truthfulness (satya) is foundational to dharma; a rite that conflicts with truth and propriety is rejected even by a powerful sage.
No tīrtha is named in this verse; it is ethical instruction within a Māhātmya narrative frame.
It negates the possibility of a certain ‘makha’ (sacrifice) being performable under the demanded conditions.