Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 138
इते ते कीर्तिताः प्रश्राः शक्त्या ब्राह्मणसत्तम । साधु वाऽसाधु वा ब्रूही ख्यापयात्मानमेव च
ite te kīrtitāḥ praśrāḥ śaktyā brāhmaṇasattama | sādhu vā'sādhu vā brūhī khyāpayātmānameva ca
इति ते मया यथाशक्ति प्रश्राः कीर्तिताः, ब्राह्मणसत्तम। साधु वा असाधु वा तत् ब्रूहि, आत्मानं च स्वकीयं परिचयं प्रकाशय।
Deductive: A narrator/visitor addressing brāhmaṇas; immediate next adhyāya identifies Nārada, implying this is spoken by Phālguna/Arjuna prior to Nārada’s reply
Listener: brāhmaṇa-sattama (addressed)
Scene: A humble interlocutor addresses a venerable brāhmaṇa, hands folded, requesting judgment on propriety and asking for self-identification; a calm āśrama setting with ritual implements and seated sages.
FAQs
It models dharmic inquiry: ask humbly, seek discernment (proper/improper), and establish truthful identity.
No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it functions as a dialogue bridge.
None; it is a conversational request for ethical evaluation and self-identification.