Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 86
प्रेक्षकैश्चेष्टितः शश्वदारटन्विविधैः स्वरैः । संयम्य नीयते हन्तुं लज्जितोऽधोमुखो जनाः
prekṣakaiśceṣṭitaḥ śaśvadāraṭanvividhaiḥ svaraiḥ | saṃyamya nīyate hantuṃ lajjito'dhomukho janāḥ
দর্শকদের দ্বারা উত্তেজিত হয়ে এবং বিবিধ চিৎকারের মধ্যে, তাকে বেঁধে বধের জন্য নিয়ে যাওয়া হচ্ছে। হে জনগণ, সে লজ্জিত হয়ে মাথা নিচু করে আছে।
Festival announcers/performers (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A bound man, head bowed, is dragged toward execution; spectators shout in varied voices, some pointing, some jeering; guards restrain him firmly. The sacred horizon (temple spire/sea line) contrasts with the noisy crowd.
FAQs
Wrongdoing culminates in shame and loss of dignity; public moral theatre reinforces accountability and fear of pāpa.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where communal participation (prekṣakas) supports dharmic instruction during festivals.
A festival enactment in which spectators’ cries accompany the restrained offender being led for punishment, serving as a deterrent lesson.