Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 11
उत्तमाधममध्यत्वममीषां वर्णयंति ये । असत्यवादिनः पापास्ते यांति निरयं ध्रुवम्
uttamādhamamadhyatvamamīṣāṃ varṇayaṃti ye | asatyavādinaḥ pāpāste yāṃti nirayaṃ dhruvam
ఈ దివ్య దేవతలను ‘ఉత్తమ, అధమ, మధ్యమ’ అని వర్ణించి భేదం చేసే పాపి అసత్యవాదులు నిశ్చయంగా నరకానికి పోతారు।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deductive, Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Tirtha: Naimiṣāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Rājendra (best of kings) is implied in the surrounding dialogue frame
Scene: In the sacred forest of Naimiṣa, austere sages admonish a disputant: do not label the gods as high/low; the atmosphere is stern, didactic, and judicial.
FAQs
Do not promote divisive, false rankings of revered divine powers; sectarian slander is treated as a grave ethical fault.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse focuses on dharma regarding speech and reverence.
None; it is a moral injunction (niṣedha) against false, sinful speech.