Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 17
कुष्ठ्युवाच । कुत आगम्यते विप्र क्व यास्यसि वदाऽधुना । एवं लावण्ययुक्तोऽपि किमेकाकी यथार्तिभाक्
kuṣṭhyuvāca | kuta āgamyate vipra kva yāsyasi vadā'dhunā | evaṃ lāvaṇyayukto'pi kimekākī yathārtibhāk
কুষ্ঠীয়ে ক’লে— “হে বিপ্ৰ, তুমি ক’ৰ পৰা আহিছা, আৰু এতিয়া ক’লৈ যাবা কোৱা। ইমান লাৱণ্যযুক্ত হ’লেও তুমি কিয় একাকী, যেন দুখৰ ভাৰ বহন কৰিছা?”
Kuṣṭhī (the leper brāhmaṇa/householder)
Scene: A leper, marked by disease yet dignified, addresses a radiant young brāhmaṇa traveler; the contrast between affliction and beauty is central, with an undertone of empathy and curiosity.
FAQs
Suffering invites inquiry and guidance; respectful questioning becomes the beginning of transformation in Purāṇic tīrtha stories.
Not yet; the question prompts the traveler’s account that will introduce the sacred place and its benefits.
None directly; the verse models respectful address and inquiry (vinaya) as part of dharmic conduct.