Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 38
महेश्वर उवाच । अत्रार्थे कथयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तमधोक्षज । शृणुष्वैकमना विष्णो वाहीकस्य द्विजन्मनः
maheśvara uvāca | atrārthe kathayiṣyāmi purāvṛttamadhokṣaja | śṛṇuṣvaikamanā viṣṇo vāhīkasya dvijanmanaḥ
মহেশ্বৰ ক’লে: “এই প্ৰসঙ্গত, হে অধোক্ষজ (বিষ্ণু), মই এক প্ৰাচীন বৃত্তান্ত ক’ম। হে বিষ্ণু, একাগ্ৰচিত্তে দ্বিজ ‘বাহীক’ৰ কাহিনী শুনা।”
Maheśvara (Śiva)
Tirtha: Kāśī (contextual frame)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Adhokṣaja (Viṣṇu)
Scene: Śiva (Maheśvara) begins an ancient tale, addressing Viṣṇu (Adhokṣaja) in a calm, didactic setting—divine council atmosphere, signaling the start of a moral narrative.
FAQs
Sacred history (purāvṛtta) is presented as dharma-instruction; attentive listening is itself a doorway to understanding karma and its results.
The verse sets up a teaching within the Kāśī-khaṇḍa framework, preparing for the wider Kāśī Māhātmya narrative (the glory of Kāśī and its salvific power).
No direct ritual is prescribed here; the immediate discipline emphasized is śravaṇa—focused listening to purāṇic teaching.