Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 5
ब्रह्महत्याभयात्सा हि न तु शूद्रैः कदाचन । उच्चारणाद्धारणाद्वा नरके पतति ध्रुवम्
brahmahatyābhayātsā hi na tu śūdraiḥ kadācana | uccāraṇāddhāraṇādvā narake patati dhruvam
బ్రహ్మహత్యా భయంవల్ల అది (ఈ మంత్ర/విధి) శూద్రులు ఎప్పుడూ స్వీకరించరాదు; ఉచ్చరించినా లేదా ధరించినా మనిషి నిశ్చయంగా నరకంలో పడతాడు।
Skanda (deduced: Revā Khaṇḍa narrative instruction)
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira
Scene: A didactic scene: the sage warns about adhikāra and the peril of improper mantra-bearing/utterance; the atmosphere is grave, emphasizing restraint and fear of downfall.
FAQs
It stresses strict adherence to prescribed eligibility (adhikāra) in ritual practice, framing it as a serious dharma boundary.
No single tīrtha is named in this verse; the chapter context belongs to the Revā-region tīrtha traditions.
A restriction on recitation/retention of a particular mantra/rite, presented as an injunction with stated karmic consequence.