Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 93
श्रुतिभूदेवदेवानां नृपसाधुतपस्विनाम् । पतिव्रतानां नारीणां निन्दां कुर्यान्न कर्हि चित
śrutibhūdevadevānāṃ nṛpasādhutapasvinām | pativratānāṃ nārīṇāṃ nindāṃ kuryānna karhi cita
ویدوں سے معزز دیوتاؤں، بھودیو برہمنوں، نیک بادشاہوں، سادھوؤں اور تپسویوں، اور پتی ورتا پاک دامن عورتوں کی کبھی بھی بدگوئی نہ کرے۔
Skanda (deduced from Purāṇic instruction style within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa)
Scene: A forest-āśrama setting: a teacher instructs a gathered audience on guarding speech; devas above, brāhmaṇas and tapasvins seated; a pativratā woman depicted as radiant, symbolizing chastity and dharma.
FAQs
Dharma begins with restraint of speech—never malign those who embody sacred authority, tapas, and virtue.
No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it lays universal conduct (sadācāra) appropriate for sacred settings like Dharmāraṇya.
No ritual is prescribed; the injunction is ethical—avoid nindā (slander) of venerable persons.