Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
तां श्रुत्वा भर्तृरहितां शारदां गर्भिणी सतीम् । सर्वे धिगिति प्रोचुस्तां जारिणीति जगुर्जनाः
tāṃ śrutvā bhartṛrahitāṃ śāradāṃ garbhiṇī satīm | sarve dhigiti procustāṃ jāriṇīti jagurjanāḥ
கணவன் இல்லாதபோதும் சாரதா கர்ப்பிணி என்ற செய்தி கேட்டு அனைவரும் ‘அவலம்!’ எனக் கூறினர்; மக்கள் அவளை ‘விபச்சாரிணி’ எனப் பழித்தனர்.
Sūta (contextual continuation)
Scene: A crowd in a village street points accusingly; Śāradā stands apart, visibly pregnant, eyes lowered; faces show contempt, shock, and moralistic anger; a few compassionate onlookers hesitate.
FAQs
Worldly opinion often misjudges hidden truth; dharma requires restraint in speech and fairness before condemning the virtuous.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse highlights a social-ethical turning point in the narrative.
None; it depicts social reaction and moral failure (nindā).