Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 98
पतितान् वर्जयेद्विप्रान् वृषली यस्य गेहिनी । स्ववृषं चापरित्यज्य वृषैरन्यैर्वृषायते
patitān varjayedviprān vṛṣalī yasya gehinī | svavṛṣaṃ cāparityajya vṛṣairanyairvṛṣāyate
पतितान् द्विजान् वर्जयेत्; यस्य गेहिनी वृषली—स्ववृषं परित्यज्य अन्यैर्वृषैः सह वृषायते—तादृशं च वर्जयेत्।
Mārkaṇḍeya (in dialogue; section context)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pārtha (addressed in nearby verses) / disciples
Scene: A pilgrim at a riverside tīrtha turns away from a disreputable household; elders gesture toward the sacred path, emphasizing restraint and purity.
FAQs
Ritual purity is linked to the moral eligibility of recipients/officiants; dharma emphasizes discernment in religious giving.
The discussion continues within Revā-kṣetra instructions, framing how rites should be properly conducted at the tīrtha.
Avoid employing or honoring “fallen” Brāhmaṇas (patita) and those associated with grave domestic misconduct when arranging rites.