Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2
एवं मध्यस्थवचनात्समुदाये स्थिरे सति । स प्रष्टव्यः पितुर्माता कतमा ते वदस्व नः
evaṃ madhyasthavacanātsamudāye sthire sati | sa praṣṭavyaḥ piturmātā katamā te vadasva naḥ
«Assim, segundo as palavras de um mediador imparcial, quando a assembleia estiver assentada e firme, deve-se interrogá-lo: “Quem são teu pai e tua mãe? Dize-nos.”»
Context unclear in snippet (likely a narrator or respondent continuing the dialogue after Ānarta’s question)
Scene: A formal sabhā (assembly) seated in a temple courtyard or tīrtha rest-house; a neutral mediator stands between parties; elders and brāhmaṇas hold palm-leaf records; the questioned person stands respectfully with folded hands.
FAQs
Purification and religious standing are tied to orderly, fair community processes guided by impartial judgment.
The verse remains within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya narrative setting, though it discusses community procedure rather than the site itself.
A procedural prescription is given: in a stable assembly, an impartial mediator’s guidance is followed and lineage is formally inquired.