Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 39
भेदास्त्रयः समाख्याता विज्ञेयाः स्मृतिनिर्णयात् । शिल्पिनः सप्त विज्ञेया उत्तमाः समुदाहृताः
bhedāstrayaḥ samākhyātā vijñeyāḥ smṛtinirṇayāt | śilpinaḥ sapta vijñeyā uttamāḥ samudāhṛtāḥ
ตามข้อวินิจฉัยแห่งสมฤติ ได้สอนความจำแนกไว้สามประการพึงรู้; ในหมู่นั้น ช่างฝีมือเจ็ดจำพวกพึงเข้าใจ และถูกประกาศว่าเป็นชั้นยอด
Brahmā (in Brahma–Nārada dialogue context)
Scene: A scribe reads from a Smṛti manuscript while seven artisan figures stand with their tools in a respectful semicircle, indicating recognized status.
FAQs
Dharma recognizes ordered social functions; even worldly crafts are placed within a sacred framework when aligned with scriptural ethics.
The broader section belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya within the Nāgara Khaṇḍa (a tīrtha-focused glorification).
No specific rite is prescribed here; the verse introduces a Smṛti-grounded classification that is elaborated in subsequent verses.