Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
अवटंकैर्हि ज्ञायंते नान्यथा ज्ञायते क्वचित् । गोत्रैश्च प्रवरैश्चैव अवटंकैर्नृपात्मज
avaṭaṃkairhi jñāyaṃte nānyathā jñāyate kvacit | gotraiśca pravaraiścaiva avaṭaṃkairnṛpātmaja
अवटंककैर्हि ज्ञायन्ते, नान्यथा क्वचिदपि। गोत्रैश्च प्रवरैश्चैव अवटंककैः, नृपात्मज।
Vyāsa (contextual—continuation of Vyāsa’s reply)
Listener: nṛpātmaja (prince)
Scene: Vyāsa addressing a prince: a schematic depiction of gotra-pravara ‘tree’ beside ritual implements; the prince listens attentively.
FAQs
Dharma is preserved through clear transmission of lineage-knowledge (gotra/pravara) and the disciplined markers of tradition.
Dharmāraṇya remains the sacred narrative setting; the verse itself is about dhārmic identification systems.
Implicitly, it supports the use of gotra and pravara in Vedic rites for proper invocation and ritual propriety.