Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 10
न स्मृतिर्न पुराणं च वेदांतं वा द्विजोत्तमाः । न चास्ति ब्राह्मणः सोऽत्र सर्वज्ञप्रतिमो न यः
na smṛtirna purāṇaṃ ca vedāṃtaṃ vā dvijottamāḥ | na cāsti brāhmaṇaḥ so'tra sarvajñapratimo na yaḥ
اے بہترین دِویجوں! یہاں نہ اسمِرتی ہے، نہ پُران، نہ ویدانت؛ اور یہاں کوئی ایسا برہمن بھی نہیں جو سَروَجْن (ہمہ دان) کے مانند ہو۔
Unnamed Nāgara dvija(s) (lamenting lack of resources/authority)
Scene: A barren study-hall near a sacred site: empty manuscript bundles, silent seats of teachers, a few worried dvijas scanning the horizon for a learned brāhmaṇa; the supplicant remains unpurified.
FAQs
Spiritual practice and expiation require competent guidance and reliable sources; ignorance and lack of teachers become obstacles to dharma.
No single tīrtha is praised in this verse; it underscores the necessity of learned custodians within a sacred place.
None; it highlights the problem—absence of accessible authoritative instruction.