Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23
एवं ते मुनयः श्रुत्वा तासां वाक्यानि तानि वै । भूपृष्ठे तत्यजुस्तोयं शापार्थं यत्करैर्धृतम्
evaṃ te munayaḥ śrutvā tāsāṃ vākyāni tāni vai | bhūpṛṣṭhe tatyajustoyaṃ śāpārthaṃ yatkarairdhṛtam
وعند سماع تلك الكلمات من النساء، سكب الحكماء على الأرض الماء الذي كانوا يحملونه في أيديهم لغرض اللعنة.
Unspecified narrator within the Purāṇic frame (likely Sūta’s narration in this Tīrthamāhātmya sequence)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Sages, having heard the women’s plea, release water from cupped hands onto the ground—water glows with ascetic heat; the earth darkens where it falls, foreshadowing transformation.
FAQs
Speech, intention, and ritual acts (like holding water for a śāpa) are shown as spiritually potent and world-shaping.
The Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra region, whose local geography is explained through this māhātmya narrative.
A curse-rite gesture: holding and releasing water (toya) with intent—here used to effect a śāpa.