Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 30
देवीं परिजिहीर्षू तौ विषमेषु प्रपीडितौ । दिवोवतेरतुः क्षिप्रं मायां स्वीकृत्य शांबरीम्
devīṃ parijihīrṣū tau viṣameṣu prapīḍitau | divovateratuḥ kṣipraṃ māyāṃ svīkṛtya śāṃbarīm
وقد عزم الاثنان على اختطاف الإلهة، وهما مضغوطان في مكائدَ خطرة، فنزلا سريعًا من السماء متقمِّصَين المايا الخادعة لشَمْبَرا (Śambara).
Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: The two daityas, intent on abducting the Goddess, rapidly descend from the sky cloaked in Śambara-like illusion—shifting forms, smoky glamour, deceptive veils—approaching the luminous Devī.
FAQs
Adharma relies on māyā and coercion, but such schemes collapse before the Divine; the devotee is urged to seek truth and refuge in Devī.
The episode sits within Kāśī’s Mahātmya (Kāśīkhaṇḍa), underscoring the sanctity of the region guarded by divine power.
None stated; the verse describes the demons’ strategy (māyā) and descent.