Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 1
अगस्त्य उवाच । बर्हियान समाचक्ष्व हरिकेशसमुद्भवम् । कोसौ कस्य सुतः श्रीमान्कीदृगस्य तपो महत्
agastya uvāca | barhiyāna samācakṣva harikeśasamudbhavam | kosau kasya sutaḥ śrīmānkīdṛgasya tapo mahat
অগস্ত্য ক’লে: হে বৰ্হিয়ান! হৰিকেশৰ পৰা উদ্ভূত সেইজনৰ বিষয়ে মোক কোৱা। সেই শ্ৰীমান ব্যক্তি কোন—কাৰ পুত্ৰ, আৰু তেওঁৰ মহাতপস্যাৰ স্বৰূপ কেনেকুৱা?
Agastya
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (contextual)
Scene: Forest hermitage: Agastya sits composed with matted hair and water-pot; Barhiyāna stands respectfully. The scene signals the start of a new account about a sage born from Harikeśa.
FAQs
Purāṇic teaching often begins with inquiry: sincere questioning about lineage and tapas opens the doorway to dharma and sacred history.
The verse serves as a narrative transition within Kāśī-khaṇḍa; the wider section continues the glorification of Kāśī.
None; it is an introductory question initiating a new account.