Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 53
प्रत्यक्षं कारयेद्दिव्यं राज्ञो वाधिकृतस्य वा । ब्राह्मणानां श्रुतवतां प्रकृतीनां तथैव च
pratyakṣaṃ kārayeddivyaṃ rājño vādhikṛtasya vā | brāhmaṇānāṃ śrutavatāṃ prakṛtīnāṃ tathaiva ca
Испытание следует совершать явно, на глазах у всех — либо перед царём, либо перед назначенным им должностным лицом, а также в присутствии сведущих в шрути брахманов и народа как свидетелей.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: A public hall or temple-court: king or officer seated; brāhmaṇas with scriptures; townspeople gathered; the ordeal area marked; all proceedings visible.
FAQs
Justice must be transparent and witnessed—dharma is strengthened when decisions are made in the open under sacred and social oversight.
No holy site is mentioned; this verse concerns governance and procedural dharma.
The ordeal is to be conducted publicly before the king or an authorized officer, with learned brāhmaṇas and the community as witnesses.