Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 69
स्थानजोऽपि चतुर्वेदो यद्यपि स्यान्न शुद्धिभाक् । बहूनामपि शुद्धानां मध्ये श्राद्धं विनाशयेत्
sthānajo'pi caturvedo yadyapi syānna śuddhibhāk | bahūnāmapi śuddhānāṃ madhye śrāddhaṃ vināśayet
اگرچہ وہ مقامی برہمن چاروں ویدوں کا عالم ہو، لیکن اگر پاکیزگی سے محروم ہو تو بہت سے پاک لوگوں کے درمیان بیٹھ کر بھی شرادھ کو برباد کر دیتا ہے۔
Skanda (deduced)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A learned local brāhmaṇa with Vedic manuscripts appears outwardly authoritative, yet signs of impurity/neglect are shown; many pure brāhmaṇas sit properly; the officiant warns the yajamāna—teaching that ācāra outweighs mere scholarship.
FAQs
Ritual purity and conduct outweigh mere learning; dharma is safeguarded by śuddhi (purity) as well as knowledge.
The line supports tīrtha-dharma generally by instructing how to protect the sanctity of rites performed at holy places.
Do not include an impure person in the śrāddha seating—even if he is a learned local Veda-knower.