Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 80
वार्यतामिति विप्रोऽयं महद्दूषणबाषकः । न केवलं पापभागी श्रोता वै स्यान्न संशयः
vāryatāmiti vipro'yaṃ mahaddūṣaṇabāṣakaḥ | na kevalaṃ pāpabhāgī śrotā vai syānna saṃśayaḥ
‘ห้ามเขาไว้!’—พราหมณ์ผู้นี้กล่าวถ้อยคำหมิ่นประมาทอย่างใหญ่หลวง มิใช่เพียงผู้พูดเท่านั้น แม้ผู้ฟังก็ย่อมมีส่วนในบาปแน่นอน—ปราศจากข้อสงสัย
Character within the story (likely the sakhī/companions), narrator default: Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)
Scene: A companion urgently raises a hand to stop a brāhmaṇa from speaking; her expression is stern and protective, warning that even hearing the slander brings sin.
FAQs
Dharma includes guarding one’s speech and hearing; participating in slander—by speaking or listening—creates pāpa.
None; the verse is ethical instruction within a narrative.
A behavioral prescription: restrain slander and avoid listening to it.